Mamamag Port Phillip Oct 2014 by MamaMag

port phillip

October 2014

WIN 1 of 1o KX pilates 1o session passes worth $24o each Champagne tips Scratching for answers Got a bed wetter? Local spring fashion Rumble in the jumble

free Local fun for the Port Phillip mum 1

Welcome Welcome to the first issue of Port Phillip mamamag! We are so thrilled to be here and we hope you join us for the ride! mamamag was started as a local platform for parents and small businesses to get their word out there. To create something fun to read whilst you drink your coffee with your toddler hanging off your leg. To help families find out about exciting new shops, events, community projects, products and places to visit in the Port Phillip area. And finally to create something clever to help our local businesses promote themselves locally! I’m a local mum to my two little cherubs (or devils depending on the day). I’m also a local small business owner and a graphic designer with a love for everything printed. So mamamag comes out of my passion for all of the above. It’s not an online blog (there are plenty of them), it is a printed monthly magazine designed for you to sit back and read and enjoy (if only the kids would give you 5 minutes to yourself!). But I’m not in this alone. mamamag is also a community that we want you to be a part of. That way we can be sure that this little mag has exactly what you want to see in it. So if there is something you think we should know about, an event, a fundraiser, a fabulous park or coffee shop or a to-die-for new product you think every mum should have, drop us a line, we’d love to hear all about it. Each month we will have many regular articles. We will visit a Port Phillip street to find all the hot spots (check out Ormond Road, Elwood this month). There will be recipes from local cafes and businesses, fabulous kid’s book reviews from local books stores, park of the month, fitness and nutrition articles from great local professionals and of course some pages for your creative kids. This month we visited the Elwood Community Market, we got out and about and found some great fashion and fun from some of Port Phillip’s small boutiques and we’ve got your Spring racing covered with some champagne etiquette to keep ourselves nice. We hope you love this first issue as much as we do. Remember, shop locally and support mamamag’s local advertisers, as without them we wouldn’t have a FREE mag to bring you each month. And don’t forget to join us on Facebook where we promote lots more local events and run heaps of cool give-aways! Until then, enjoy mamamag and keep on smiling!

/localmamamag

@localmamamag

WIN

Contents Girls’ night in 4 Fundraising for breast cancer research Champagne tips Expert advice for Spring Carnival

Do you have a bed wetter? We could have the answers here

Scratching for answers The real truth about head lice

Exercise for the pregnant women Considerations you should take

Mama of the month We meet with Sally Esse

Turn the page 18 This month’s top picks from Readings Mama can cook Tacos and a kale and quinoa salad

The middle of Spring Fun & fashion from our local picks

Healthy supermarket shopping Tips on how to do it

Rumble in the jumble Elwood Community Market

In our street We explore Ormond Road Elwood

How to be breast aware Expert advice from NBCF

Parklife 32 Fun at St Kilda Adventure Playground Avoid mistakes when buying a home 34 Top 7 mistakes to avoid Are you returning to work? Tips for being prepared

Pregnancy and post natal care Pilates can help

Top 10 tips for a great family holiday 40 Fun for kids Kid’s crafts and our colouring comp

Essential oils for mums and bubs

mamamag october 2014

1 of 1o KX pilates 1o session passes worth $24o each For use at their Brighton or Port Melbourne Studios*

Visit our Facebook page to enter

www.facebook.com/localmamamag Entries close October 31st 2014. *5 Passes for each studio available. For further details and terms & conditions visit mamamag.com.au 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? artwork@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

GIrls’ nIght In? Love catching up with your girlfriends, mothers group or the ladies in your family? Why not bring everyone together for a very special event and raise much-needed funds to help beat women’s cancers at the same time? October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it provides an opportunity for us all to focus on breast cancer and its impact on those affected by the disease in our community. Breast cancer is the most common new cancer for Victorian women. An estimated 5,000 Victorian women will be diagnosed with breast or a gynaecological cancer this year alone. This accounts for almost a third of all cancers in women. Breast cancer remains the biggest killer of women aged 35-54. Five-year survival rates for breast cancer have increased to nearly 90% from 72 % in 1982 thanks to investment in research, prevention and support. Last year Girls’ Night In raised $1.5 million in Victoria. This year the target is $1.7 million. How do you host an event? When it comes to your Night In the possibilities are endless. Why not host a trivia night, a few cheeky wines, a chick flick marathon, dinner party, clothes swap, or a book club? How do people register? Planning your Girls’ Night In is easy! Set a date with your girlfriends during October or November and register your event at www.girlsnightin.com.au.

HOST A GIR LS’ NIGHT IN

Alternatively, call Cancer Council Victoria’s Supporters Hotline on 1300 65 65 85. No time to plan a Girls’ Night In? Why not donate? Visit www.girlsnightin.com.au

Support those affected by breast and gynaecological cancers and fund vital research, prevention programs and support services. Together, we can make a difference. girlsnightin.com.au 1300 65 65 85

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SINCE 2003

champagne tips for s Spring in Melbourne is synonymous with hats, horses and champagne. Our diaries are full and more often than not, so are our glasses. But we need to sail through this social period with grace, so I am offering up some of my best advice for etiquette when it comes to drinking champagne.

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5 Etiquette Tips:

1. Try to serve your guests the tulip flute. This shape is best for champagne service. The long test tube shaped flute is not ideal for champagne service as there is no-where for the aroma to gather and when you are drinking champagne you want to enjoy the full bouquet as this is one of its best features! No stem-less flutes please. 2. Always hold your flute by the stem of the glass. You don’t want to change the temperature of your champagne by holding it by the bulb (and we don’t want grubby finger prints on our glasses!) 3. If you need to chill the champagne quickly before guests arrive, don’t put it in the freezer. Make a slushy with ice and water and add some salt to help chill the champagne more quickly. 4. When you are opening the champagne bottle remember that a gentle sigh is what we want with the cork. And don’t forget that the cork can come out at 40km per hour so don’t take your hand off the cork when opening and don’t point the bottle at anyone…we are trackside at the horses not at the Grand Prix! 5. When pouring our champagne remember to have the label of the bottle facing up out of respect to the winemaker and the champagne house. Pour the ladies first of course and then the gentlemen. Time old traditions should be respected sometimes! And less is more - keep topping up guest’s flutes, don’t overfill them so that the champagne gets warm.

spring racing Top

5 Champagne Pairing Tips:

1. Champagne is certainly a great wine which can be served for all meals. Rose champagne in particular is the most versatile of all the champagnes and can be enjoyed from your breakfast with red-berry pastries or cheese soufflé right through to lunch with chicken sandwiches or to a roast duck pancakes for post racing snacks. 2. Cheese doesn’t always pair perfectly with champagne but if you are going to match champagne try a Comte cheese with a vintage champagne or a low dosage, dry champagne with a Parmesan cheese. 3. A vintage champagne (it has the year on the bottle) spends more time in the winemaker’s cellar in France and will have more weight, body and more complex aromas and this will partner better with more full bodied dishes. 4. Champagne is quite delicate in weight and aroma and generally doesn’t pair well with spicy food so avoid chilli, strong Indian or Thai spices. 5. When serving champagne with food you can serve it a few degrees warmer (10 to 12 degrees in temperature) as it will help to unlock some of those fabulous aromas which will better compliment the food. Younger champagnes (Non Vintage – NV Champagnes) to be served cooler to show off their freshness, somewhere between 6 and 8 degrees.

Written by Kyla Kirkpatrick, a champagne dame and a mum! Kyla is a champagne advocate and ambassador and has been presenting in the champagne industry for nearly decade. She resides in Brighton when she is not in Paris and regularly hosts champagne master classes and dinners. You can find her at www.thechampagnedame.com For your own private champagne masterclass contact Kyla on kyla@thechampagnedame.com.

do you have a bed wetter? How common is bed wetting in children?

What are the common factors in bed wetting?

The clinical name for bedwetting is Enuresis and it is one of the most common non-medical conditions in early childhood. It is a frustrating problem for parents with all those extra sheets to wash and a worrying problem for children when they cannot have a sleepover at their friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; houses because they may be teased.

Two out of three young bed wetters are male. As the child grows older the proportion of males and females with the problem usually evens up.

It is a problem that a child cannot prevent because the problem is not within their ability to control. Statistics show that at age four 25% of children are wetting their bed several nights a week. At five years of age 15% still wet their bed, at age eight years 8%, at age fourteen 4% and eighteen plus, 2%. Some children are dry for a few months and then the problem starts again. As these statistics demonstrate, bedwetting is not abnormal for young children. It is not a medical or physical problem, it is not their fault and they should not be punished for what they cannot control. So what is the problem? Some children take longer than others to adjust the nervous system connection between the brain and the bladder. For some children the brain just fails to interpret and act on the signal from the filled bladder. In a non-bedwetting child the brain gets the signal from the bladder, interprets that the child is asleep and switches off the muscle sphincter in the bladder until the child wakes up. In some children for a variety of reasons this just fails to happen. By Kate Madigan from Feet and Hands Reflexology in Brighton.

There is usually a genetic basis to the problem and it quite clearly runs in families so if the mother, father or grandparents suffered from a delay in remaining dry at night it is more likely that the child will also. Bedwetting rarely has a medical or psychological basis and 98% of children will outgrow it.

Treatments There are a variety of methods to rectify the problem. However, most of the treatments only work while the method is used continually; e.g. Wake the child late at night, get a bed wetting alarm, ask the doctor for a prescription for medication, etc. One of the most effective treatments for bed wetters is Reflexology, an ancient therapy that is based on the scientific principle that there are pressure points found in the feet and hands which correspond to all of the glands, muscles, organs nerves etc. in the body. Reflexology therapy addresses the brain bladder connection, strengthens the bladder and assists with the nervous system while reducing the tension in the child. The number of treatments required may vary. Sometimes two or three treatments are sufficient, but more commonly a minimum of twice a week treatments for four or more weeks are required. What a relief for those frustrated parents who can now take their stress free children off to a sleepover with their friends and no more dramas with the school camp.

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Scratching for Answers? The real truth about Head Lice My son’s school perform a lice check once a term and publish the classes affected in the school newsletter so Mums know to keep an eye out if needed. That’s great and touch wood neither of my two kids have been affected before, but it was scary to see that these little critters had managed to infiltrate 17 classes between prep and grade 6. Head lice have been around for thousands of years and unfortunately we are never going to be completely rid of them. There so many myths about how to manage them so we are here to set them straight. The real truth about head lice and treating them.

Do head lice fly or jump between kids? Head lice do not have wings so they can’t fly. They can’t jump because they do not have ‘knees’. Head lice crawl very fast and require head-to-head contact for transmission. Children are more inclined to get head lice than adults because they engage in more head-tohead contact - over secrets, games, sports. That is why head lice are seen more widely amongst kinder/primary school children than adolescents or adults.

Do head lice live in carpets, clothes, hats or sheets? No. Head lice very rarely fall from the head. They require blood to survive. Head lice feed three to four times a day and without blood, will dehydrate in six hours in a dry climate and 24 hours in a humid climate. An egg requires warmth to hatch. This the reason why they are laid close to the scalp. The further away from the scalp, the less likely they are to survive.

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Do head lice only like clean hair? No. Head lice are not selective. They don’t care if hair is long, short, blonde, brown, washed this morning or last week. As long as they are warm, and have blood to drink, then they are content.

What treatment kills 100% of head lice or eggs? There is no single treatment that kills 100% of head lice or eggs. Whichever treatment you choose it can take time and persistence to get rid of head lice. Use a method that will not risk the health of your child.

Is there a way to prevent head lice? No. It’s important to check your child’s head regularly with conditioner and comb even when you don’t think your child has head lice. There is no research to prove that chemical or herbal therapies can prevent head lice.

How does the conditioner and comb method work? It’s a very cheap and effective way of finding head lice. Hair conditioner does not kill lice, but it does stun them for about 20 minutes, meaning they do not move around, and it is difficult for them to hang on. This gives you time to comb through the hair with a fine tooth (head lice) comb. Repeat this every second day until there have been no live lice found for ten days.

How does a chemical head lice treatment work? Only use products that are licensed or registered for head lice. There are four different active chemicals that target head lice, each works differently and aims to kill lice and/or eggs.

Do some products work better than others?

Why does my child keep getting re-infected?

Over time, head lice may develop resistance to some chemicals. It is important to check if a treatment you used has worked, and if not, treat again with another product that has a different chemical in it.

Re-infection is the least likely reason for head lice returning in a weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time. If eggs do not die, or were not removed during the original treatment they may hatch and the life cycle starts all over again. To break this life cycle you must re-treat (regardless of treatment method) seven days after the first treatment and continue with weekly checking.

Why do you have to treat again in seven days time? Head lice eggs take six to seven days to hatch. And when you treat, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to miss an egg or two. By treating again in seven days, you are aiming to kill and comb out any head lice that have since hatched from eggs, which were missed.

Should I treat everyone in the family?

What should I wash or treat at home?

Does my child have to miss school?

As head lice only live for a short time off the head, the only extra cleaning needed is to wash the pillowslip on the hot cycle or place in the clothes dryer. Head lice combs can be cleaned in hot soapy water.

According to the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009, children with head lice can be readmitted to school after head lice treatment has commenced. A certificate from a doctor or council is not required before your child goes back to school. Head lice are not the fault of schools, other families or children.

It is important to check each family member, using conditioner and comb, for head lice but only treat those with live lice.

For more information visit health.vic.gov.au/headlice 11

Exercise for the Pregnant Woman Your health as a mum-to-be has an enormous impact on your growing bub. Pregnancy is not the time to train hard to improve your fitness and become an athlete. It is, however, extremely important that you look after your health with sound food and exercise choices to stay in the best shape possible during pregnancy. Unhealthy nutrition and a lack of physical activity can cause a myriad of problems with the health of you and baby. If you are already an exerciser when you conceive your exercise intensity will need to reduce and there are several considerations to make to keep yourself and your peanut safe. There are some definite conditions that mean exercising whilst pregnant is an absolute no-no, unless you have Doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clearance, as they pose a high risk. Talk to your doctor about whether you have any absolute contraindications to exercise. Some may include; hypertension, heart problems, previous miscarriage or pregnancy complications. If your pregnancy is otherwise normal, then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommended that you continue with moderate and regular exercise whilst making the considerations shown in the table.

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Consideration:

Aim for:

Avoid:

Fatigue: you are going to tire quickly and often. Take ample rests during sessions and don’t beat yourself up if you skip a session because you’re fatigued!

20–30% drop in intensity from what you’ve been doing.

Exercising if you are fatigued

Joint stability: During pregnancy your body is releasing lots of the hormone Relaxin, which makes your joints hyper-flexible. During weights sessions it’s important that your form is perfect and your weight isn’t so heavy that it will put your joints at risk. It’s helpful to get a knowledgeable Personal Trainer for your weights sessions during pregnancy.

Spin bike

Core temperature: It’s important to ensure your body temperature doesn’t get too high during sessions.

60–70% intensity sessions.

80–100% intensity sessions.

Keep heart rate under about 140 beats per minute.

Exercising in hot temperatures outside or in studios with poor ventilation

Abdominal separation: Your belly is growing and you ab muscles are being stretched apart. This means they weaken and cannot work as well as they once did.

Plank holds

Crunches

Shorter holds: 30–45sec

Long holds >1min

Pelvic instability and lumbar/ pelvic tilt: With baby growing there is increased pressure on your pelvic floor. Your pelvis tilts forward putting pressure into your lower back.

Spin bike

A hard running, jumping, stairs, stepper machine

Supine hypotension (low blood pressure): With a growing belly, exercises that have you lying flat on your back for longer periods (>1min) pose risk to the blood flow back to your heart.

Exercises that have you standing or seated upright to engage core/pelvic floor

Pregnancy incontinence: There is increased pressure placed on your bladder and pelvic floor now. You’ll likely need to go to pee more frequently and may notice reduced bladder control.

Low impact movements: Spin bike, cycling, walking, elliptical trainer (cautioning long stride lengths)

Exercising to exhaustion

Daily moderate sessions rather than infrequent high intensity sessions Outdoor cycling

High impact exercises: running, jumping, hopping

Light jogging

Heavy weights

Swimming

Overextending joints

Cross-trainer Lighter weights with higher rep numbers

Buying a heart rate monitor can help here

Light swimming Aim for shorter strides when walking/jogging

Side lying movements. eg: lateral holds, leg abductions.

Exercises that have you lying flat on your back, either on a matt or a bench, Eg: crunches, bench press

Bench work with the bench back in upright position

Shorter exercise bouts

High impact movements: Bearing down/putting pressure on your pelvic floor, eg: jumping, hopping, running, skipping

Frequent breaks

Prolonged bouts

Find a place with a close bathroom!

Minimal rest breaks Exercising far from a bathroom!

The last point to remember is: Go easy on yourself! The best thing you can do during pregnancy is to be kind, show love and acceptance to yourself. You are going to feel tired and you will fatigue faster. This is normal. Don’t focus on your body weight. Shift your focus to maintaining a regular and varied exercise regime and following a nutritious eating plan. This will make for an emotionally healthy and happy mama. And we all know a happy mama makes for a happy baby! By Betsy Kirk - Bach App Sci (Exercise and Sports Science) USYD TEAM Elwood Personal Training 13

Summer Sleeping Bags Organic range Wraps Hooded Towels Perfect for Baby Gifts

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MAMA of the month The journey of creating a mums’ magazine has allowed the mamamag team to meet so many amazing local mums who have managed to start their own businesses or start something new and exciting whilst juggling their other full time job, motherhood! It is both inspiring and fun to find out about each of their journeys and so we have decided to bring you a ‘mama of the month’ each month! Perhaps their story might inspire you to take the leap into something new too! This month we met with Sally Esse, a Port Melbourne mum who left a life of travel and an advertising career to create a clever and creative business, Cheek By Jowl, and a beautiful Port Phillip home with husband George and sons Henry (4) and Tom (2). What is your career story? I studied Graphic Design at RMIT and worked in small agencies in Melbourne and as an inhouse designer for the State Library. I followed a Swedish boyfriend to Stockholm for a couple of years and worked as a designer there. I then moved to London and worked at Charbonnel et Walker, who have a royal warrant for making the Queen’s chocolates and Harrods. I was then senior designer for French company, JCDecaux, who do outdoor advertising. After 7 years there I have been busy studying, freelancing, raising my two boys and starting Cheek By Jowl. What does Cheek By Jowl mean? It’s a term that describes the skin of the cheek and jaw being very close to each other. It expresses intimacy and togetherness. Your silhouettes are beautiful! A bit like a modern cameo brooch. Can you tell us more about it? I spent a lot of time in the National Portrait Gallery in London whilst on maternity leave - they have a huge collection of silhouette portraits. I loved the way so much character was expressed in such a simple form. I was also completing a Masters in Design Studies and wanted to work with making a tactile portrait for visually impaired people, so my interest in portraits grew. (This led me to design a pregnancy test that visually impaired women could use in private on their own). I wanted to start a business that would make beautiful things that endured. I also wanted to start something that had broad appeal – silhouettes can be made of children, couples, pets and families. I love the face, and different representations of it. I started drawing some silhouettes and discovered that during the height of the Victorian silhouette trend, silhouette artists’ studios were all along the 16

Strand in Covent Garden, where I was living at the time. Trying to find a lovely and unique gift for a friend’s engagement, I made my first laser cut silhouette portraits a few years ago and have done lots of family and friends since then, which have had a fantastic response. I think with my design background and understanding of materials and marketing, it just seemed to come together. Can you tell us about the creative process? A client emails or texts me a head and shoulders photo of the subject. I draw around the profile photo and create a vector outline, editing hair and clothes – people love it that I can do nose jobs or chin tucks on their profile! Then I have the pieces laser cut, custom framed, gift wrapped and delivered. It’s ready in about a week for unframed pieces, or 2 to 4 weeks for framed works or family groups. I photograph the work before sending it out, both as a record and for marketing purposes. I love finding new ways to set up the shot; I give each piece individual creative treatment. Does anyone famous have one on their wall? I gave my friend, the broadcaster and writer Chrissie Swan, portraits of her 3 children Leo, Kit & Peg for her 40th birthday and they looked really special. A while back, Europe’s leading silhouette artist Charles Burns got in touch and suggested we swap portraits. He’s made over 150,000 silhouettes using traditional black paper and scissors. He’s even done the Queen’s portrait twice! We sent each other photos and I created him a black acrylic piece. I was actually reading his book in bed when I checked my phone and he’d messaged me on Facebook with the suggestion! So rather a big deal to me!

“I think a great portrait has to do with the way it is approached ... it is to do with the feeling of individuality, and the intensity of the regard and the focus on the specific”. Lucian Freud

“Follow? Nay, I’ll go with thee, cheek by jowl.” A Midsummer Night’s Dream

What are your plans for your business in the future? Being really strategic with my marketing plan will make a big difference to growing the business now. My husband made my amazing website - I’m in awe of his skills. I see so much potential for small businesses and makers to sell their wares online. I think women are embracing things like Pinterest and Instagram in such a dramatic way so quickly; it’s fun and essential to make CBJ Design a part of that. Starting up a new business is always very timeconsuming. How do you manage the work/life balance? Any tips for other mamas? My 2 year old son Tom only started sleeping through the night earlier this year so I have been a daze the last couple of years really! I think starting CBJ kept me sane and in touch with the real world, it meant I could focus my skills and look forward to something as well as raising a family. I was lucky that it was just a fledgling business and it only got as busy as I wanted it to be in that time, but now I feel that fog lifting and I seem to make pretty good use of the pockets of time I have throughout the day. I realized that I was never going to get that huge chunk of time to work on my business between naps and mealtimes etc. I started getting pretty good at planning a phone call here and a meeting there, and fitting it into the boy’s routine. I would say to other women wanting to start their own thing, do little bits here and there to keep things moving. It’ll take more time, but if you have a clear vision of where you want to be, that is sometimes a benefit – your business will emerge fully formed with a little bit of patience! And finally, where can we find you? Pop over to www.cheekbyjowldesign.com to see my full range or contact me at sally@cheekbyjowldesign.com www.facebook.com/cheekbyjowldesign

turn the page

Monthly book reviews from our friends at:

Sam & Dave Dig a Hole - Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen (illus.) $24.95 Sam and Dave are on a mission to find something ‘spectacular’. Is there treasure in the ground? Their dog seems to know but unfortunately Sam and Dave aren’t paying too much attention to him. I guarantee you will chuckle at what you can see and Sam and Dave cannot. Kids’ picture books don’t get any better than this. For ages 3 and up.

Little Dog and the Christmas Wish - Corinne Fenton & Robin Cowcher (illus.) $24.95 As Little Dog searches through the streets for his young owner he passes well-known Melbourne landmarks – I love seeing my city depicted in a book and children will enjoy putting names to places. They will also empathise with the sweet Little Dog as he wearies from his long day of scouring the town. Will his Christmas be a happy one? Readers and dog-lovers aged 3 and up will be keen to find out. The Princess in Black - Shannon Hale & Dean Hale & LeUyen Pham (illus.) $19.95 Who says princesses don’t wear black? Princess Magnolia may be having tea with Duchess Wigtower and pretending to be a delicate, proper princess, but she has a very big secret. She is actually a superhero in disguise! This is a gorgeous, action-packed adventure story that delightfully overturns the princess myth. Perfect for aspiring adventurers aged 4 and up. The Cleo Stories: The Necklace and the Present - Libby Gleeson & Freya Blackwood (illus.) Was $16.99 - Special price $14.99 The Cleo Stories, is about an imaginative young girl and her world, in which Cleo’s house, her neighbourhood and her family and friends are all lovingly rendered with Blackwood’s pencil drawings. Cleo is a wonderful character, free-spirited and creative, possessed with all the open curiosity of childhood. This is a gorgeous hardback that will resonate with readers aged 6 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. 18

GRUG COMES TO READINGS!

ST KILDA STORY TIME

Everyone’s favourite Australian Hairy Creature is back with a new book. We are going to take Grug on an all day tour of Readings shops – please join us for the ultimate photo opportunity. Suitable for ALL ages.

Saturday 25 October, 10.30am

Saturday 18 October 10.30am: Readings St Kilda 12pm: Readings Malvern 2pm: Readings Hawthorn 3.30pm: Readings Carlton

With the very entertaining Mini Goss, author of Too Hot for Spots and Too Cold for a Tutu. Readings St Kilda 112 Acland St, St Kilda Free, no need to book.

Free, no need to book.

STEPHANIE ALEXANDER Wednesday 29 October, 5pm Not only is Stephanie Alexander’s The Cook’s Companion now in its third edition, but Stephanie “wonder woman” Alexander has a vision that pleasurable food education is accessible to every Australian school with a primary curriculum. Join Chris Gordon as she chats with Ms Alexander about all things delicious, inspiring and effective. Bring the kids! Readings St Kilda, 112 Acland St, St Kilda Free, please book at readings.com.au/events.

CARLTON • HAWTHORN • MALVERN • ST KILDA • STATE LIBRARY readings.com.au | Free delivery Australia-wide for all online orders. 19

mama can Cook! Carolina and Ali are two Mexican graphic designers who met at a cultural association in Melbourne and instantly became friends. They shared common interests like as crafting, music, art and design and shared the idea that their lives and design aesthetics were enriched after moving to Bayside Melbourne; they even ended up working in the same Black Rock design studio!

Under the partnership called “Chile & Limón” (chilli & lime - ingredients that make everything yummier!) they started exploring traditional and new found sources of inspiration. They wished to share their culture in Australia through real Mexican products with an emphasis on cultural authenticity and good design. Thus Taquito Adorado was born, an homage to the authentic soul of the taco: simple, comforting, communal, fun and absolutely delicious. Chile y Limón have run cooking workshops and demos and are continuously surprised by the response that kiddies have to tacos – preparing and eating them. Children love cooking, participating, helping and they feel so proud with the final result, whatever this might be.

The little ones can make the masa balls and squashing them to make tortillas, they can also help tearing the coriander leaves off the stem. Removing kernels off the cobb uses finer motor skills and can be a great challenge for a patient little child. Children also love presenting their masterpiece: have them dressing the tacos and passing them around to the guests.

Easy Beef Tacos Makes 4 Ingredients: Tortillas 1 cup masa flour* 3/4 cup lukewarm water A heavy book wrapped in Glad Wrap Filling 1 small red onion, finely chopped 2 limes, juiced 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped

Find more taco recipes in Taquito Adorado Recipe card set. chileylimon.com.au

6 coriander sprigs, finely chopped 1 avocado, chopped 1 bbq’d corn on the cob, kernels removed 1 rump steak salt and ground pepper *Or maize (corn) flour found in specialty stores.

Cook mini tacos for your little ones!

Method: Combine masa flour and water in a bowl and knead (for about 1 minute) until the dough is soft. If it is sticky, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too wet and if it breaks up, it's too dry; add a little water as necessary. Divide dough into 4 equal portions, about the size of ping pong balls. Place one portion of dough between the book and table and squash until the tortilla is about 3mm thick. Carefully peel tortilla from the book and place it on a non-stick frypan on high heat for about 1 minute on each side (no oil is needed). Wrap the tortillas in a tea towel to keep them warm.

Season steak with sea salt and ground pepper. On a non-stick frypan or bbq, cook the steak to your preference. Let the steak rest. Place the corn on the BBQ and cook until tender. To make the salsa place onions in a serving bowl and pour in the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Let it stand for a few minutes. Add corn, tomatoes, avocado and coriander. Cut the steak in eight pieces, place four in each taco and top with salsa.

Kale and Quinoa Salad Las Chicas is an institution on the Balaclava block â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an icon without the attitude. They love to keep things local (which we love too!) by partnering with local businesses for their meats and produce. And they love providing you with great healthy and fresh food ideas like this amazing salad. Ingredients:

Method:

1 bunch of kale

1. Rinse quinoa under cold water then place in saucepan with vege stock

1 cup quinoa 2 cups vegetable stock 2 large ripe avocados

2. Bring to the boil then turn to low and simmer for 15 mins until all liquid is absorbed

1 punnet cherry tomatoes

3. Empty onto tray and allow to cool in fridge

Handful of toasted almonds & pine nuts 1 apple

4. Tear the kale into bite sized pieces and dress with the lemon dressing. The longer the kale sits in the dressing, the softer the kale gets. This can be done the night before.

Lemon Dressing:

5. Halve the tomatoes and cut avocado into 1cm cubes

1 cup lemon juice 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

6. In a bowl combine the dressed kale, tomatoes, avocado, quinoa, almonds, pine nuts, shredded basil and grated apple

Salt & pepper

7. Season with salt & pepper and dressing to taste

(Can store in fridge for up to 4 weeks)

8. Serve heaped in the middle on 4 round plates

Handful of basil

3 cups rice bran oil

This super healthy mama special is from 203 Carlisle St Balaclava

KEUNE Salon St. Kilda 1/2 Head & Tint - $130 Ladies Creative Cut - $55 Blowave from - $40 Men’s style Cut - $35 & receive 10% off any Keune product 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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Learn to ride Meet other women Cycle with women of similar standard Ride Melbourne’s great cycle paths Both confident and non confident riders are welcome Non confident join in a group of 3 cycling classes Confident have a ‘test ride’ with me! All are then able to ride in a group of similar standard women For more details contact Jacinta Costello on 0417 311 708 www.ladiesbackonyourbike.com.au

Based in Brighton!

Hello cushion $59.95 Little Urban, Port Melbourne Munster budge over budgie top $54.95 Cookie Kids, Middle Park

The middle of spring

Squeak coin purse $35, South Village Tra

Spring has truly sprung. So time to get out and explore Port Phillipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great selection of fashion, homewares, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goods and other great local spots. We love to shop local!

Hug a Planet soft globe $49.95 Naughts and Crosses, Elwood Escargo Kids Floral Fizz one piece $59.96 Tiny Polkadots, Port Melbourne

Aura Duo lime bath towel $49.95 Coco & Creme, Port Melbourne Mini meringue kisses $8 Charlie Buckett, Elwood

Silk scrf $50 Winkle, Middle Park

Walnut Mary Janes $29.95 Tiny Polkadots, Port Melbourne

Sarai concrete votives from $12.95 The Grumpy Swimmer, Elwood

, Mint Home dish $45 ading, Elwood

Noe & Zoe dress $49.95 Little Urban, Port Melbourne

Hanoi Camilla cushion $74.99 Coco & Creme, Port Melbourne

Coco & Ginger bib $26.40 Naughts and Crosses, Elwood Lamby Lamp $175 Naughts and Crosses, Elwood

Some fun we will bring

Down to the Woods watermelon door mat $57.99 The Grumpy Swimmer, Elwood

Jumbo stripe linen cushion $49.95 Coco & Creme, Port Melbourne

Fox & Finch skye print top $54.95 Cookie Kids, Middle Park Arlington Milne coin purse $69 Winkle, Middle Park

The best way to do a he One of the biggest struggles that a lot of people have is knowing how to shop and choose the right foods when visiting the supermarket. They’ve actually made it really EASY for you to shop, if you know what sections to visit, and which to avoid. In fact, (if you leave the kids at home) you can get in and out of the supermarket with a full cart of fat-burning groceries in just about 20 minutes nowadays, simply by NEVER even visiting 80% of the store aisles on most visits.

The EASIEST supermarket shopping tip EVER: Shop the perimeter of the store and avoid the middle aisles. That’s it! Here’s why it works….. With few exceptions, the middle aisles of the grocery store are full of processed packaged foods, while the perimeter contains almost all of the whole, natural foods you’ll need to stock up your fat-burning kitchen.

Here’s how you can make this your new routine as most supermarkets are usually set up in a similar way. When you walk in the door, make sure to walk right on past the bakery! Did you know that nearly every grocery store puts the bakery right at the entrance intentionally? If they can get your saliva glands working right away, it’s very likely you’ll spend more as you travel through the store... nothing in a supermarket’s layout is by accident. A quick trip through the bakery for multgrain bread then head straight to the produce section. This is where wholesome goodness starts. Fresh fruit & veggies. There are a ton of great choices lying around, & pretty much any vegetable and/or fruit would be a great fat-burning, nutrient-rich choice. Then walk to the fresh meats, poultry & fish. We now have the choice of an “all natural” selection of red & white meats which include organic meats that are sourced from animals not treated with hormones and antibiotics, plus grass fed meat, chemical free & free range.

ealthy supermarket shop By Carolyn Smith, inspiredfitnesssolutions.com

For other great low fat, high protein options try things like: • All natural chicken sausages • Grass fed beef • Fish like salmon • Organic chicken breast • Turkey & kangaroo products

Next up is the dairy and eggs section, (you might have to venture into an aisle for the eggs). From here pick up: • Organic or free range large eggs • Organic butter • Organic milk • Organic greek yogurt • All-natural cheddar cheese

Now you have a full trolley of fat-burning groceries all while barely visiting the center aisles where you could have been tempted to toss in a bunch of processed garbage like biscuits, crackers, chips, ice cream, cereal, stove top pasta “mixes”...and the list goes on. If you do need to make a strategic trip into the middle of the store, make sure you have a list to get things like: beans, spices, tomato puree, nuts, stevia, wholemeal flour. And that’s about it (besides toiletries). Follow that simple advice next time you’re at the grocery store and you’ll be in and out in no time while avoiding all those processed items that wind up ruining your diet once you get them home. Good luck!

Rumble in the jumble! Who doesn’t love a good jumble sale? Or a craft market? Or a babies and toddler market? Or a farmers market? Whilst there are various markets on around Melbourne every weekend, you have to choose what style you wish to visit. So what if you could find a combination of them all, all in the one spot? Well luckily we found one and it’s in Port Phillip too! Behold the Elwood Community Market! The Elwood Community Market is a major fundraising effort for Elwood Primary School (we like helping local schools right!) and it is

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voluntarily run by the parents and teachers of the children attending the school (we love giving back to good causes too!). Each year the school hosts eight community markets in their school grounds, offering a great selection of trash and treasure, plants, clothes, jewellery, fresh breads, pastries, farm fresh fruit and veg, amazing food stalls and other eclectic and unique surprises. It’s like every market you ever dreamed about all rolled into one. There is fun to be had for everyone. I was delighted to discover a myriad of fun things for

elwood primary school the kids. A jumping castle, baby animal farm (who doesn’t love a baby sheep?), craft activities, ice-cream van and an ever-growing variety of fun and games to keep the children amused.

1980’s Noddy books and the china deer!). And if you have just had a spring clean and fancy offloading your stuff, you can book your own stall for only $25!

And make sure you stay for lunch! There is a huge host of food options (we recommend the pulled pork rolls!). But don’t forget the sausage sizzle and barista coffee. Plus the selection of treats in the school hall offer a great start to any weekend.

So bring the family down for a great morning out and feel free to bring your dog (although I bet he isn’t as cute as this guy we met above!).

The market has a fabulous community feel and there are treasures a-plenty to be found (I’m still kicking myself for not buying the complete set of

Make sure you visit the last two markets for 2014: Saturday November 1 - 9am-1pm Saturday December 6 - 9am-2pm For more information visit and 2015 dates visit www.elwoodmarket.com

in our street

Orm

ond

er St Dock

r St Vautie

Beach

Ave

Road Ave

4 5

Pine

2 3

ORMOND ROAD ELWOOD

1. Family friendly coffee and food - Jimmi Jamz Jimmi’s bring you cheap and delicious pizza and pasta in the coolest Elwood setting. They have an outdoor courtyard/beer-garden which is rigged with a kids playground to entertain the littlies. WIN! 130-132 Ormond Road. www.elwood.jimmijamz.com 2. Healthy takeout - The Foxes Den Everybody loves their local chicken shop. The Foxes Den is a ‘modern version of an old favourite’. Delicious free-range chicken, you bet. And how about salad? Stunning in-house made salads that evolve with the seasons using fresh, local ingredients. Yes please! 107 Ormond Rd. www.foxesden.com.au 3. Fresh produce - The Leaf Store Brimming with food produced by the best farms, dairies, kitchens and culinary companies in Victoria and beyond, owner Leon says “If it’s not good enough to feed to my family, it’s not good enough to be in my store.” Be sure to visit their florist a few doors up too! 111 - 113 Ormond Road. www.theleafstore.com.au 4. Beautiful things for little people - Naughts & Crosses Naughts & Crosses offers a large range of quirky products, vintage games and toys, a personalized interior styling service and an occasional party frock thrown in for good measure. 104 Ormond Road. www.naughtsandcrosses.com.au 5. Books and more - The Grumpy Swimmer They are a bookshop but they’re also a community. They run events including book club, poetry readings, author signings, album launches, storytelling nights and more and they have a lovely children’s range. 110 Ormond Road. www.thegrumpyswimmer.com.au 6. Sweeties and treaties - Charlie Buckett Vintage inspired with a modern twist, they create beautiful mouthwatering goodies that are filled with joy. Hand piped coloured meringue kisses are their show stopper but don’t miss the cookies, rocky road and brownies! Something for both young and old. 84 Ormond Road. www.charliebuckett.com.au Each month mamamag visit one of Port Phillip’s best shopping precincts to bring you new ideas for coffee, food, fashion, kids stuff and more. Drop us an email at submissions@mamamag.com.au if you’d like us to visit your favourite spot.

HOW TO BE BREAST AWARE With Dr Alison Butt, PhD, Director, Research Investment, National Breast Cancer Foundation This year in Australia, close to 800 women under the age of 40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer. While breast cancer in young women is pretty uncommon, being diagnosed with breast cancer at an early age could be devastating. Early detection provides the best chances of surviving the disease, so it’s important to be aware of any changes in your breasts.

Get familiar You don’t need to use a special technique when checking for breast changes. You just need to be familiar with the normal look and feel of your breasts. Take the time to get to know your breasts while showering, dressing or putting on body lotion.

Know what to look for Most breast changes aren’t due to cancer. Still, it is important to know what changes you should be looking for: • • • • • •

a new lump or lumpiness a change in the size or shape of your breast or nipple changes to the skin around the breast or nipple dimpling of the skin or nipple discharge or blood from the nipple an unusual pain that doesn’t go away.

Know your family history Your risk of breast cancer is increased if a close relative, like a mother or an aunt, has had breast cancer. Knowing your family history can be an important tool to aid early diagnosis.

Don’t delay If you find a breast change that is unusual for you, see your GP without delay. For more information about breast cancer and young women visit 800youngwomen.org.au

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Parklife st kilda adventure playground

mamamag park of the month

Just off Neptune Street St Kilda Every month we visit a different park in Port Phillip and share with you our discoveries. We just had to start with this ripper of a park, which, if you live in Port Phillip (or anywhere else for that matter), is not to be missed. This is a park that lets kids be kids - explore, run, challenge themselves and enjoy themselves... and who would know you’re in the heart of St Kilda!

If colour, fun and handmade cubbies are your thing, then this community based playground is chock full of natural delights. The playground let’s kids use their imagination and I personally love the rustic, recycled feel to the place... beats any playcentre that’s for sure! Everything is colourful and hand painted and mostly hand built. Tree houses, cubby houses, giant pirate ships, a tepee, big war plane, awesome in-ground trampoline, fantastic flying fox, big metal slide, chook house, ride on dinosaur, various swings and slides, metal half-pipe, big wooden castle with lots of nooks and crannies and a great tunnel slide. There are so many adventures to be had here. You really have to see it to believe it. This gated park is staffed and only open during certain times. Mon - Fri school terms: 3.30pm-5.30pm, Weekends: 11am-5pm, School Holidays: 11am-5pm, Public Holidays - 11am-3pm. Ideal 6-12 year olds, but my 4yo also had a blast.

Fun and learning too!

Enrol now for Term 4

• Research based programs • Movement, music and specially designed equipment • Encourage critical skills for early learning and literacy • Professionally qualified instructors

BabyROO (from 6 weeks) & Toddlers (1-3 years) Adele Southwick Hall, 12 Charnwood Grove St Kilda Email admin@gymbarooalbertpark.com.au or call 9578 5611 for bookings

www.gymbarooalbertpark.com.au Sell your house fo r more

THINKIN G ABOU A BIGG ER HOM T E FOR YO UR FAM ILY? Here are some tips to

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help you get starte d

7 mistakes to avoid Head over heart is a major dilemma when it comes to house hunting. Buying a new family home can be a very emotional process but it is also important to keep those emotions in check to make the most rational decision possible. Local mortgage broker, Michele Mansfield of EquityVision, has a wealth of personal and professional experience when it comes to house hunting. As a busy mum, Michele understands most of us are time poor and when it comes to major decisions, having free, expert advice on hand is the way forward. Michele has devised a list of the most common emotional traps we fall into when buying a home:

1. You know you can’t afford it, but you’ll just go and have a look You know when you walk into an open for inspection house and you get ‘that feeling’. The home has got everything you want, the built in coffee machine for you, the wine cellar for him, playroom for the kids plus a fully decked out home theatre room – complete with popcorn making machine...but before you even got there, you knew it was out of your price range and you could never afford it. Now you’re just disappointed. To avoid feeling like this, only look at homes in your price range.

2. Thinking that this house is the only one for you There are 42071 households in Port Phillip (2011 Census), 10907 in St Kilda alone and 6772 in Elwood. In nearby Bayside, Brighton East has 6390, Hampton 6903. So it’s highly unlikely that the house you’ve just seen is the only one you’ll ever find that will make you and your family happy. So if you are thinking of overlooking some major flaws in ‘the’ house, remember all of the other potential out there and walk away.

3. Being so anxious about never finding ‘the one’ that you buy a home that doesn’t suit you When you’ve been looking for a while and nothing is coming up that you really want, or you are bidding at auctions, but walking away as an under-bidder all the time, it’s easy to start thinking that you’ll never find the right home. If you compromise and move into the wrong house in a moment of desperation, you’ll end up hating where you live. Buying and selling again will be very expensive, let alone the hassles of moving.

4. Ignoring defects in the structure, appearance or location of the house See mistakes 2 and 3 – don’t ignore major flaws, problems that will be impossible to change or significantly expensive issues to fix in the house you are considering buying. Don’t forget that new properties are coming on the market every day.

when buying a home 5. Thinking you’re a handyman when you’re not We’re all busy, so don’t underestimate the time, money, expertise and energy you will need if you take on a fixer-upper. How many times have you heard your friends complaining about budgets being blown out on renovations or repair jobs and tradesmen who never turn up when they say they will? And if it’s a major renovation, you may not be able to live there for an extended period of time.

6. Putting in an offer before carefully considering all the pros and cons of the property Have you ever heard someone saying that the Agent told them they were the only person wanting to buy a certain property, so there’s no real rush to put in their offer? Usually the exact opposite is true. If you haven’t had the proper building and legal inspections done and haven’t really had time to suss out the neighbourhood, don’t be rushed into making a big mistake. See mistake number 4.

7. Offering more than a house is worth If the property market is hot, houses are selling quickly and for high prices, and you’re serious about this house, it’s all too easy to get sucked into a bidding war – either at auction or private sale. To help you establish the worth of a property, I’m offering you a complimentary Property Profile report. This report provides a detailed electronic assessment of the property as well as comparable property sales and suburb details. All you have to do is email me the internet property listing.

Even knowing all of this, you may still find yourself making decisions based on emotion during the home-buying process. Slow down, overcome your emotions and ultimately, make a home-purchase decision that’s good for both your feelings and your finances. For even more helpful advice, tips and loads of resources visit www.equityvision.com.au By Michele Mansfield, Local Mortgage Broker & Adviser www.equityvision.com.au Michele Mansfield is a credit representative (CR No. 399836) of BLSSA Pty Ltd (Australian Credit License No. 391237)

are you ready for the workforce again? Taken time off raising your family? When the time is right to return to the workforce, you may wish to consider the following suggestions. Hopefully, these will help you move to interview stage and ultimately find the job you really want. Are your software skills business ready? If you’re entering the workforce after a period at home you need to be confident that you are capable of using the tools every office demands. This applies to everyone, no matter what type of position you’re looking for. If you’ve been away from the workforce for some time you will find that the software has changed considerably and although you may have the updated software at home, you are probably not using it to the extent you’ll be required to at work. There are many training organisations that will offer a Training Needs Analysis (TNA). Once assessed, if you require skill updating you need to consider whether a long term course or a short course will be more suitable. A Nationally Recognised Certificate of Competency would normally take between 12 to 18 months. www.training.gov.au has all the certificate courses and training organisations for the whole of Australia. Many short courses are available which offer a Certificate of Attendance, these will help fill any gaps in your knowledge. Make sure you choose a company that assesses your current skill level prior to training to ensure you attend a class suitable for your current level. Make sure they also offer post course support.

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new courses you’ve completed. Think about the multiple and unique skills you’ve acquired since your last job and check that references you have listed are up to date and still contactable. Many skills are required to run a household successfully. Think carefully about this, make sure you include your budgeting, time management and those all-important organisational skills. Your new resume should present you as a confident and highly capable applicant. Interview Time! Congratulations! You’ve made it to interview stage. Are you prepared? Try to learn as much about the prospective company as you can. Look at their services or what they produce. Be as knowledgeable as you can about their business, it’ll pay off as you’ll be able to engage the interviewer with that knowledge. Match that research with your own skills and think of ways that you might be able to demonstrate that you’re the cultural fit for the job. At the same time give some thought to your weaknesses, after all you know them better than anyone. Then formulate a positive answer, should the question be asked. Think yourself into the interview, after all this is the opportunity to really ‘sell’ yourself. Look smart and you’ll feel smart. If you’re not sure, ask someone whose opinion you value.

Confidence and your Resume

Remember that skills can be learned and improved. Do not let a lack of skills or confidence deter you from thinking about returning to work.

When updating your resume, make sure you have mentioned your qualifications, your career overview and achievements and any

By Linda Cockle. CEO Keyboard Concepts www.keyboardconcepts.com.au

Now taking 2015 enrolments for: 3 year old Kinder: Mon 9am - 12pm & Wed 9am- 12pm Sessional 4 year old Kinder: Mon 12.45pm- 3.45pm, Tues 9am- 3.00pm, Thurs 9.00am- 3.00pm Long day 4 year old Kinder: Core Hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 3.15pm Full Time: Mon - Fri 8.15am - 6pm

P 9531 6812

E info@lfk.org.au A 63B Ormond Esplanade Elwood

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RelativeTherapies

Personal Training for Mums! TEAM Elwood has a Personal Training membership exclusively for mums with bubs! Train during off peak times to get more privacy. We have post natal qualified trainers to look after your needs. Bring your baby and stroller with you. We are breastfeeding friendly! Contact Nick to find out more today 9531 5200 or nick@teamelwood.com.au TeamElwood.com.au

68-70 Ormond Road Elwood 38

Your Health & Massage Clinic

373 Clarendon Street South Melbourne Ph. 9690 3337 HIC availaAPS ble www.relativetherapies.com.au Mamamag Special: 10% off any treatment with the presentation of this ad Live Local - Shop Local - and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to mention Mamamag!

Pregnancy and Post Natal Care Pilates can help! During pregnancy your body goes through many wonderful, and often uncomfortable, changes. The weight of the baby puts extra strain on your pelvis, stomach muscles, and back, which often leads to various aches, pains or other problems. It’s important to look after your body during pregnancy and the post natal period to help relieve these aches and pains and to try and avoid the problems which can result in the future. A great place to start is Clinical Pilates, run by health practitioners, with exercises specially designed for you. Pilates is a gentle, fun, form of exercise that helps restore muscular balance, mobility and flexibility. It can be done with or without equipment in your home or in a class. Pelvic floor The pelvic floor consists of slings of muscles. Pregnancy and childbirth put strain on the pelvic floor. If these muscles weaken, you may leak some urine when coughing, sneezing or straining. It’s common and unfortunately may worsen as you age. Specific Pilates exercises can help strengthen and improve your pelvic floor control. It’s also important to avoid extra strain on the pelvic floor. To help avoid extra strain: • Squeeze your pelvic floor muscles when sneezing, coughing, or lifting • Avoid high impact exercises (eg. jumping) • Avoid constipation and straining on the toilet so stay hydrated and have plenty of fibre in your diet. Abdominal muscle - What is a diastasis recti? During pregnancy your stomach muscles stretch and often separate. Don’t be distressed as around 65% of pregnant women experience this, especially during the third trimester. After delivery, these muscles often don’t return to their pre-pregnancy state and may remain separated. The separation is most noticeable when you strongly activate your abdominals, for example when coughing or sneezing. The doming you may see is the protrusion of the abdominal wall between the two bands of the rectus abdominus muscle. This is called diastasis recti and is a real problem as your stomach muscles help support your back.

What causes a diastasis recti? • Abdominal weakness • Hormones • Size of your baby • Successive pregnancies What do I need to do? If you have a separation you will benefit from a specific guided program with appropriate progressions. Exercises should be carried out avoiding abdominal doming. It is very important not to start with sit ups or crunches as these overload the muscles and may prolong or worsen the diastasis. Pelvic pain and instability It’s common during pregnancy to suffer pelvic pain. It is often due to instability of the pelvic joints which occurs as the body prepares for the delivery of your baby. Things that may help: • When getting out of bed, roll onto your side first, then sit up. • Avoiding heavy lifting or doing crunches or sit ups. • A program specifically designed by a health practitioner based on your body’s unique changes and abilities. • Avoid single leg exercises, like step ups, or climbing stairs. • When rolling over in bed or getting out of your car keep your legs squeezed together and move both legs at the same time. • A pelvic or abdominal support belt may reduce pain and prevent symptoms worsening. Back pain As your baby grows and becomes heavier your tummy gets pulled forward making your back curve more than normal. This extra strain can cause pain. Heat bags, stretching and massage by a trained professional may help. And don’t forget to rest when your body tells you. A progressive Clinical Pilates program under the instruction of a trained Osteopath or Physiotherapist is a safe and enjoyable way to retrain your abdominal, pelvic and back muscles. By Stay Tuned Sports Medicine, Elwood.

top 1o tips for a great family holiday

1. Planning: When planning your next holiday take into account everyone’s likes and dislikes. A successful family holiday means the entire family has a ball. Plan the activities so that everyone has a say on what happens each day. 2. Budget: Make sure you have a holiday budget in the planning stage and stick to it. You can enjoy your holiday so much more if you are relaxed and not stressing about the cost. 3. Packing: What’s the rule with packing? Remove half of what you’ve packed before you close the case. Well that’s about true. You never need everything you think you’ll need, so be brutal when deciding what to remove. 4. Airport transfers: Start your holiday from home by booking an airport transfer car. Get dropped off at the door of the terminal and be welcomed home on arrival. Let someone else drive you home after a long haul flight. It’s safer and easier 5. Flights: Flying with children is much easier now with TV screens in the back of the seat in front of you, however it’s always advisable to have lots of little treats, fun ‘old fashioned’ games to play and don’t forget to hydrate.

6. Things to do: Research where you are going. Find out about the culture, the cuisine and the history. Really make the most of your time away to learn all you can about it. Nothing builds lasting family bonds like a holiday adventure. So go out and make some memories. 7. Accommodation: There are always so many resorts to choose from that it can be a bit overwhelming. Again, take everyone’s needs into account. If your family enjoys golf, pools, shopping & exploring, pinpoint the best accommodation so that everyone feels they have had a great holiday. 8. Stay well: To ensure that you have a safe and healthy holiday, check with your GP about any vaccines that might be required for the destination you have chosen and always be aware of your personal safety wherever you go. 9. Have fun: Don’t forget to relax and have fun. That’s is what its all about. You have worked hard and deserve to unwind. 10. Book with a travel agent: Avoid nasty surprises booking online and book your holiday with local agents Destination HQ. Most of their staff have families and have been to where you want to go. Their experience means they can save you money.

Feet & Hands Reflexology in Brighton

PUT AN END TO BED WETTING Reflexology is a non-invasive treatment to strengthen the bladder/brain reflex and is personalised to your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. 30-minute sessions twice a week for between one and four weeks are most effective. $45.00 per session for children 5-11 years $60.00 per session for children 12-17 years (health fund reimbursements apply)

Call Kate on 0408 661 863 or email kater22@bigpond.com Live Local - Shop Local - and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to mention Mamamag!

fun for the kids MR SPIDER! What child won’t love this? Decorate your room with these great little friendly spiders for Halloween. All you need is; • •

Wool (the colour you want your spider) Four pipe cleaners

•

2 goggle eyes

• Glue • Scissors •

Cardboard (an empty tissue box is perfect)

You need to make 2 cardboard circles the same size. Mine were about 10cm diameter. Then cut a smaller circle out of the middle. Cut the wool into metre lengths and wrap around both the circles. I like to wrap 5 or so strands at a time. Keep wrapping till there is only a tiny hole in the middle. Place your finger through the hole and carefully cut around the outer edge of the circle, running your scissors between the two circles. Slowly take out your finger, trying not to let the cut wool move. Push the four pipe cleaners through the same hole so that the middle of the pipe cleaner is in the middle of the hole. Cut a 1 metre length of wool and carefully place it in between the two cardboard circles wrap it around a couple of times pulling as tight as you can and double knotting. Tear off the cardboard circles. Trim the wool to make it nice and even. Glue some big goggle eyes on and bend the pipe cleaners to look like legs and your done!! Don’t forget to visit me on facebook and say hello. Facebook.com/lizzyannstudio or visit my new website at lizzyann.com.au

win! Colour in the Spooky Halloween fun for a chance to WIN 1 of 2 clever playmats from Play n Wrap.

Mess free fun that just packs up into an easy, go anywhere, sack. playnwrap.com.au

Simply post your entry by Oct 31 to Mamamag. PO Box 8018 North

Name: Address:

Road LPO, Brighton East VIC 3187

Age: Postcode: 43

Essential Oils for What are essential oils? Essential oils are hydrophobic liquids that are distilled from the roots, leaves, flowers, fruit and bark of plants. They are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way. Essential oils are powerful and have uses beyond anything most of us know or think. Different essential oils have been shown to fight infections, soothe emotional issues, aid the body in healing itself and provide families with a natural alternative to synthetic pharmaceuticals.

Using the best oils available… As an Aromatherapist, using oils of the highest quality is imperative, even more so where children are concerned as you don’t want to compromise a child’s health. I believe dōTERRA essential oils represent the safest, purest and most beneficial essential oils available today. They are gently and skillfully distilled from plants that have been patiently harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers from around the world for ideal extract composition and efficacy. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognise dōTERRA’s superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) essential oils. Always follow label warnings and instructions. Essential oils should not be used in the eyes, inside the ear canal, or in open wounds. If redness or irritation occurs when using essential oils topically, simply apply any vegetable oils such as fractionated coconut oil or olive oil to the affected area. Consult your physician before using essential oils if you are pregnant or under a doctor’s care. You will notice in the following recipes that I have suggested placing oils on the bottom of feet, this is a safe, easy and comfortable way to apply oils to babies and young children.

The blends I have suggested here are dōTERRA blends but if you choose to use another brand just leave the blend out of the equation, please note though, that I do not know if you will get the same results with another brand. If using coconut oil, use fractionated coconut oil as it has no scent. Other good quality carrier oils are also fine. If you would like to purchase any oils, you can go through a link at relativetherapies.com.au or call 9690 3337 to place an order or come into my clinic and sample some oils.

mums and bubs

By Nicole Ferguson Dip Rem Massg & Cert IV Aroma

Relative Therapies South Melbourne

A-Z for you and your family... Allergies: Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint, 1 drop each. Apply to bottom of feet morning and night. Bed Wetting: Balance Blend, massage 2-4 drops on feet and 2-4 drops of Cypress on bladder area at bedtime. Bee Sting: Tea Tree and Lavender, 1-2 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Apply on location. Burns: Lavender and Tea Tree, 2-3 drops diluted in coconut oil. For severe burns, add Helichrysum. Constipation: DigestZen Blend, 2 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Massage on stomach. Crying: Serenity Blend, Ylang Ylang, Lavender or Roman Chamomile, 2 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Apply to bottom of feet for comfort. Cuts and Scrapes: Tea Tree and Lavender, 1-2 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Diarrhea or Digestion: DigestZen Blend, 2 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Massage on lower stomach. Eczema: Lavender and Tea Tree, 2 drops each, dilute with coconut oil. Apply topically to rash. Fever: Peppermint, 1 drop, dilute with coconut oil. Apply to forehead, back of neck and bottom of feet every 15-30 minutes, until fever goes down. Be careful that child does not touch the areas of applied oils and rub the eyes. Immune Booster: This is great for back to school! 10 drops Wild Orange, 2 drops Cinnamon, 2 drops Eucalyptus - diluted in 60mls coconut oil. Store in a glass container and apply a small amount daily.

Insect Bite: Lavender and Tea Tree or Purify Blend, 1-2 drops each, dilute with coconut oil. Insect Repellent: TerraShield Blend, applied topically to exposed areas. Mastitis: Tea Tree, Lavender, Thyme, Clove, Rosemary and Wild Orange, dilute 1 drop each into coconut oil and Massage into Breasts and Lymph Nodes under arm pits. Breast feeding straight after application is not recommended. Motion Sickness: DigestZen Blend, 1-2 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Apply to bottom of feet. Sinus Infection: Breathe Blend, diffused into air overnight, or when child is in confined space. Breathe Blend and Eucalyptus, 2-3 drops each applied on feet and dilute with coconut oil for application on chest. Sore Throat: Oregano, 1 drop, Tea Tree or OnGuard Blend, 2 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Apply topically on throat, around ears, and on feet. At least 3 to 4 times daily for 2-3 days. Temper Tantrum: Balance Blend and Lavender or Serenity Blend, 1-2 drops, diluted with coconut oil. Apply to bottom of feet. Tonsillitis: OnGuard Blend, 3-4 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Gently massage blend over throat and up to the jaw line. Also, OnGuard Blend, diffuse in air overnight. Whooping Cough: Breathe Blend, 2-3 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Apply to chest. Eucalyptus and OnGuard Blend, 1-2 drops, dilute with coconut oil. Apply to bottom of feet.

SPORTS AND EXERCISE FOR KIDS AGED 2-6

live local– shop local Mamamag is a FREE magazine for the Mums of the Port Phillip area. Without our local advertisers, we wouldn’t be able to bring you this little mag of monthly fun FREE. And without mamamag you might not have known about the multitude of great local businesses and services available in the Port Phillip area. There might be a lot of ads in here, but we believe they are all businesses and services that local Mums will love or need. And we wouldn’t be here without them.

CALL 0412 373 505 - WWW.GOKIDZGO.COM.AU

So... Live Local + Shop Local! Then you will be a true Local Mama! For advertising enquiries visit www.mamamag.com.au

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Chime baby!

For your child's next birthday party, why not invite Dancing, Games & Party Fun Awesome Songs & Music Glitter and Tattoos Prizes for all & Birthday Gift Theme & Character Options

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playgroup & support group

Feeling Ok? If Not, Join Us... As a parent, we all have hard days. If you feel that these days are harder than they should be, drop in to our playgroup and support group at Elwood Community Playgroup. Connect with other parents experiencing similar struggles.

Every

MONDAY

3-5pm Front Room

51 Broadway Elwood Open to all members - anytime New members always welcome

Enquires

Rose on 0416 241 984 or mumtomum@elwoodplaygroup.org.au

elwoodplaygroup.org.au