Westside MamaMag Oct/Nov 19

WESTSIDE

mamamAg Oct/Nov 2019

WIN 1 of 4 VIP famIly passes to santa’s magIcal kIngdom Fashion & Beauty Dare more, care less The beautiful truth Style me over Time for me

free Local fun for the Westside mum 1

Ages

3+

Arts Centre Melbourne presents a CDP Kids & Salspot Production

Based on the books by Eric Hill

LIVE ON STAGE

13 – 17 November Arts Centre Melbourne artscentremelbourne.com.au Presented by arrangement with Salspot Limited, part of Penguin Random House. Copyright © Salspot Ltd 2019. Original artwork © The Eric and Gillian Hill Family Trust 2013-2019. FUN WITH SPOT™ Salspot Ltd. All rights reserved.

summer Is comIng All hail the mighty sunshine! Summer most certainly is coming. As I type this it is a balmy 24 degrees outside and mama couldn’t be happier. It’s also the last day of the school term and that means a week of fun adventures coming up with my kids before I hit week two, ship them off to dad, and go back into work mode getting my small army of 25 out on the streets delivering this very magazine. School holidays always offer such opportunity for different fun and excitement though. New movies out at the cinema (did you catch Abominable, it’s so awesome?), interesting holiday activities at a host of locations, impromptu car rides to destinations old and new (we hit Enchanted Adventure Garden recently and the tree surfing was incredible).

We’d love to hear what fun stuff you got up to. Make sure you tag us in your Instagram posts if you’re hitting a fabulous family friendly spot.

Sunshine and Summer means time to up my beauty routine and drag out that Summer wardrobe. We are talking all about plenty of fashion and beauty this issue with some wonderful insights into styling, self-love, beauty and more. I was also lucky to talk to some amazing women who are doing awesome stuff. Tiffiny Hall, one of the fittest mums around, shares with us insights into her life as a mum and her gorgeous new children’s book. We spoke with the amazing mums behind the new TV series Behind the Sash, a journey of four powerhouse women who shine a light on different issues of injustice both in Australia and abroad. And is it really Summer if you don’t cook some lamb on the BBQ? Check out Relish Mama’s recipes on page 24.

Ahh-mazing.

There are heaps of great things on in the lead up to Christmas. The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical is a must with the kids! You’ll find plenty of stuff going on with your local councils, the new Addam’s Family movie hits Dec 5, and there is plenty of fun at the Bellarine Railway with their Santa trains. Speaking of Santa... Santa’s Magical Kingdom is always a winner at Caulfield Racecourse. Make sure you enter our competition to win VIP tickets to that! Until next time xx @localmamamag

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Local fun for everyone • Bayside • Eastside • Northside • Westside

WIN

Contents Dare more, care less

6

Self-love and style

It is time for me

8

Take a day for yourself

Parklife 12 Dellbridge Drive Reserve, Sydenham

A first time for...

1 of 4 VIP Family Passes

14

Chatting with Tiffiny Hall

Turn the page

16

Worth

Mama’s top book picks

The beauty of brushing

$240 eac

18

Got a dry brush? Use it!

The beautiful truth

h!

22

Beware of brand claims

Mama can cook

24

Dinner with Relish Mama

Behind the sash

26

A doco making a difference

Inside out beauty

30

Collagen uncovered

Happily ever after

32

The bad mums club

Colour to WIN

35

Tickets to Spot at The Arts Centre

The Summer rub

36

How to be chafe-safe!

Emotionally aware

40

Best books for helping kids cope

It’s cool to be kind

42

A mum’s story

When words get stuck

44

The stutter struggle

Star of the show Talent agent tips

46

Enter at www.mamamag.com.au/smk

Join Santa, Mrs. Claus and their friends as they share the magical Christmas spirit at the Saturday 23rd Nov 6pm session of Santa’s Magical Kingdom at Caulfield Racecourse. Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts Oct 1st 12.01am and closes Oct 31st 2019 at 11.59pm. Tickets may not re-sold or redeemed for cash.

Visit www.mamamag.com.au/competitions for full terms and conditions.

santasmagicalkingdom.com.au MamaMag is published bi-monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s West by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd. ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au | www.grizzledesign.com.au

12,500 copies per issue distributed bi-monthly across Melbourne’s West with 50,000 copies in total across all four MamaMag areas: Bayside • Eastside • Northside • Westside.

Editor in Chief/Creative Director: Sarah Cavalier: sarah@mamamag.com.au Westside Editor: Rebecca Gelsi Westside Advertising Manager: Olivia Wilson: olivia@mamamag.com.au Melbourne-wide Key Account Manager: Clare Betts: clare@mamamag.com.au Want to write for us or have an article idea? submissions@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.

MamaMag Oct/Nov 2019

Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

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DARE MORE CARE LESS How to dare more, care less this Summer Having self-love is so on trend right now and thank f*#k… it’s about time.

However, rather than a passing trend like neon or flatforms, why not make self-love a classic – an heirloom that’s passed down to the next generation like Nonna’s silk Gucci scarf.

But it’s hard to keep that self-love habit when life throws colostrum, mastitis and post-partum baby bodies your way.

It’s tough to “love yourself sick” when you’re covered in it. It’s not easy to “feel yourself” when the last time you did was to check your lady-bits were still intact.

Motherhood is beautiful but messy, so if like me you’re more likely to be standing in Ikea selfcheckout with overtired kids cracking the shits, than on an Italian rooftop sipping Rosé, believe me when I say you don’t need to, to live a bold, joyful stylish life this summer.

Embrace and enjoy your current self.

Unconditionally celebrate who you are now and express yourself. Not if you drop that last 10 kilos. Not if you got this injectable. Not if this bit or that bit was smaller, flatter or firmer. Now. Style is not formulaic. It’s as individual as one’s fingerprint. And it’s an inside job.

No matter how gloriously joyful motherhood is, it’s normal to feel the relentless baby-centric schedule erasing your identity.

An easy fix is to create those moments of “you” in your clothes. You can still have functionality and express your individuality. They are not mutually exclusive.

But for the environment and the global sisterhood’s sake, don’t fall into the mum trap of buying cheap clothes with no connection.

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Curate, don’t consume Accept your body and lifestyle is evolving.

Keep your style formula simple and make a conscious decision on every single piece you buy – even if it is just a T-Shirt. Make sure you love it and want to wear it a lot as opposed to “I just need something to fit me”.

Look to other budget happy options and ways to connect with other mothers. Over consumption often comes from a lack of connection, feelings of loneliness, insecurity and low self-esteem. Organise a fun clothes swap playdate.

Know your neutrals For me, metallics are a neutral so I’ve curated a plethora of metallic clothing, accessories and a small enough heel in which I can still wrangle kids and a runaway dog .

So if you love leopard print, polka dots, bold colour or sparkle, don’t just buy pieces that only get out on rare special occasions, buy items that add flashes of “You” to make that long line in the bank less of a drag… for everyone.

Style is about being yourself on purpose, whether you are pregnant, new mum or mama on the run with kids, but summer can be a challenge as the usual mum uniform of jeans becomes unbearable.

By Sally Steele. Sally is a 48 yr old mum of two, a stylist, mentor, speaker and author of new style/self- help book Dare More, Care Less® www.daremorecareless.com - featuring 36 real women of all ages from around the world for #realstreetstyle inspiration.

3 pieces for my high impact, low maintenance summer style 1. A lightweight statement layer This can be your style savior – easily chuck over a basic feeding vest and denim cut offs, add a cool Panama and statement sunnies and no one will notice you’ve been up all night with a colicky baby. Look for reversible options, breathable fabrics in colour, sequins or print in a silky bomber, kimono or blazer.

2. A throw on dress that can go from day to night Find at least one summer dress that does not need ironing, or shapewear to look good.

Opt for a maxi or a jumpsuit if you can’t face shaving your legs. Never buy a piece unless it can work at least threeways – eg: looks good with sandals for a daytime BBQ, can be styled up for evening event, or you can add millinery for the polo or a wedding.

3. A sunsafe swimsuit that makes you feel like a Bond Girl.

Australia is number one for skin cancer and melanoma globally. We are all super careful about looking after our kids, but how many of us are walking our talk?

It’s possible to have maximum sun protection and statement style. There are a lot of brands out there but my #ultimateonepiece is SunSoaked Swim & Resort, - designed by an Aussie mum in her 40s and fitted on real bodies, changing the way women feel in swimwear.

So, don’t sit on the sidelines this summer.

Make fun memories with the people you love.

Remember it’s not the clothes, but the stories you create in them that matters.

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I

It Is tIme for me When was the last time you took some time out for yourself? And I don’t mean sneaking off for a quick mani/pedi. I mean full-blown day-out, overnighter or weekend/week off, sans kids. When did you last get together with the girls, shoot off on a road trip, hang out the sunroof like a wild-child and let yourself go?

I remember when my kids were babies, we had a holiday house at Jan Juc, and on the first day of Summer I’d leave the kids with their dad and sneak off for a pedicure to start the break with pretty toes. It felt so luxurious at the time.

So exciting to have some time off from my babes and to not worry about them for an hour.

An hour! Was that really all I got?

Fast forward 10 years, and today I’ll more than happily leave the kids, for days on end. Granted my situation is a little different to most, as a family of divorce I frequently get days away from my kids when they are with their dad, but even then, I need to be mindful that I’m using this time properly for some self-love and metime. It can’t be all work and chores, although it’s so much easier cleaning the house when they are not home!

The importance of self-care, especially for mothers, is taken much more seriously these days, and for good reason too.

If you take care of yourself,

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you are ultimately going to a better mother, a better wife (well I failed that bit!) and a better person. Who doesn’t want to be happier?

I recently test drove a new Holden Acadia with Liv from the office and snuck off to the Mornington Peninsula for a mum’s day out.

Holden ‘Take Your Time’ test drives are valid for up to 24 hours, so why wouldn’t you hit the freeway for an adventure? First stop Peninsula Hot Springs! This is the ultimate girls-day-out location where you can bathe, eat and be pampered to your hearts content.

The bath house ampitheatre is a really cool addition I hadn’t seen since my last visit and we chomped down on delicious pizza in between pool hopping our way through some of their 50 experiences.

Sure, not everybody can take a sneaky friday off, and Liv must be thinking I’m the best boss ever, but I highly recommend you consciously think about planning your next day or weekend out for a kid-free recharge. After all, you deserve it. Being a mum is the hardest job in the world. But also the most rewarding!

STYLE ME OVER I’m a Melburnian through and through (and I’m also a qualified stylist and colour analyst, confidence coach, wife, and mama to three little boys!).

best. The change was so instantaneous it was jaw dropping. I thrived off the rush I got from seeing these women transform in front of my eyes, in style and confidence.

I was born here and practically grew up in the back room of my father’s shop in the heart of the city, which also happens to be where I met my first true love - fashion. I loved watching my father style the business men and seeing how it transformed their energy, and this brought on the realisation that more people, women especially, needed to feel this too!

Today my mission is simple - to help women understand, accept and love the body they are in now, not the body they once had or hope to one day attain! I understand the importance of feeling radiant, fabulous and confident as you step out of the house each day, and I’m passionate about helping women experience that same euphoria with their own personal style.

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to get into this industry to make a difference. This led me to going into all girls’ colleges some ten years ago to talk about body image, confidence and self-esteem. My message was simple and is something I preach and practice even today.

I wanted these girls to know that their sunshine was theirs alone to own and to create, and no one could steal it from them. (And if you’re reading this, I want you to know that too!) I truly believed that getting to girls at such a vulnerable, impressionable age was crucial, and would help shape them into strong, confident women later in life.

What truly sets me apart, however, is my strong belief in the power of women supporting one another and building each other up. In fact, my commitment to this message has been the driving factor behind a number of workshops and events held in and around Melbourne, focusing on confidence and style.

“Your sunshine is yours alone to own and to create, and no one can steal that from you.”

Following this, I tried to go down a number of fashion-avenues, including styling for fashion parades and photoshoots. Nothing really felt right or clicked – till I tried personal styling.

I pretty much had my dream job. I mean, what woman wouldn’t want to go shopping with other women, giving them style and wardrobe makeovers as a job?!

I quickly realised that I could transform someone’s self-confidence with the clothes I put them in and help them hold on to this confidence by simply teaching them about their body shape and which colours suit them

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“I want every woman to feel beautiful and confident within themselves and express it through their style” Where to next, you ask? My goal from here, my big ‘WHY’ in life really, is to change the way young girls and women perceive themselves and their bodies. Research has shown that self-image is formed at an extremely young age, and a majority of young girls in high school are already engaging in negative self-talk, manifesting self-esteem and confidence issues that go on to last a lifetime. My goal is to shatter these perceptions and encourage young girls to love and more importantly, accept themselves for who they are. I’m on a mission to establish a government-funded high-school program on resilience, positive self-talk and confidence by the year 2027. This may sound overly-ambitious, but then again, all big things start small!

Aim for the stars, and you’ll land on the moon.

Here are my top five tips to feel radiant, fabulous and confident: 1. HOW TO CREATE YOUR STYLE Choose 3 words you want to feel when you leave the house and dress to how you want to feel – not the way you want to look.

Mine are: Confident, Effortless and Comfortable, so there for I go for colour, fit and easy combinations.

2. COLOUR Only mix colours that truly suit your complexion, hair and eyes – you want to wear colours that make you feel good not colours that wear you and you don’t feel your true self.

Don’t be scared of colour! Colour will lift your mood and worn correctly can help you glow.

3. #POPYOURLIPS Choose your favourite shade of colour and #popyourlips to lift your mood and to take a moment for your self-care and self-love. I’m all about the feels here at Style Me Over. The #popyourlips hashtag perfectly encapsulates my motto on how to instantly feel brighter on those not-so-fab days we all have every now and then. Taking a quick moment to do something small for yourself like popping on a bright shade of lippy can really do wonders!

Such is my commitment to the message that I’ve even created some fabulously hot tees with POPPIN’ lips to get it out there.

4. CREATE A GOOD BASE Like the foundation of a house is crucial, so are the essentials in your wardrobe. Choose good well-fitting jeans, quality underwear that makes you feel confident and supports your shape, quality shoes, a blazer or an outer jacket and a few tops that again make you feel good!

Everything else you can mix in and out.

5. IGNORE SIZING Sizing means nothing – forget about the number or letter on your size tag – it’s all about how it fits each body shape and what’s comfortable to you. All styles and fabrics fall and fit differently – it’s best to try things on or if buying online be clear on how the garment is meant to fit with the description provided.

By Melina Bagnato - Style Me Over, a fashion boutique and an online store that focuses on empowering women to look and feel their best through bespoke collections featuring high-quality, affordable styles. www.stylemeover.com

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Parklife Dellbridge Drive Reserve Sydenham Another playground with a wow feature! This time it’s an almighty climbing frame with ladders, rope bridges, birds nests and cargo nets.

The separate spinning frame will have your kids begging to push them and offers a great risk taking activity for older children.

A medium sized slide and two sets of swings (including expression swing) offer more conventional play, along with a good sized sand pit with built in pouring activities. Rocks and logs throughout the design offer some leaping challenge. The giant wooden casurina fruit look

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amazing and offer yet another climbing activity.

Exercise stations surround a grassy field so while the kids play you can complete your own circuit or just lounge in the sun. Of course that same grassy field is perfect for ball games and has a combo Aussie rules, soccer goal. There’s also a half basketball court.

Amenities: Drinking tap, BBQs, picnic shelter

Dellbridge Drive, Sydenham

Renault KOLEOS

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PENINSULA RENAULT Seaford: (03) 9599 2199 *Conditions, fees and charges apply. 2.9% Comparison rate for approved personal applicants and 2.9% annual percentage rate (APR) for approved business applicants of Renault Financial Services (Australian Credit License Number 391464). 2.9% APR. Maximum 36 month term. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. This comparison rate for the purpose of the national credit code is based on 5 year secured loan of $30,000, although this offer relates to a 36 month term only. Offer available on new and demonstrator Renault Koleos vehicles purchased before 20/12/19 and delivered prior to 31/12/19. Premium paint available at additional cost. Excludes Government, Rental and National Fleet customers. Renault reserves the right to vary, extend or withdraw this offer. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. At participating dealers only. See Renault.com.au for eligible models. ~ Includes 3 scheduled maintenance services or 3 years from date of registration (whichever occurs first). The value of each scheduled maintenance service is capped at $349 for petrol models and $369 for diesel models. In the event that the scheduled maintenance service costs more than the capped price due to additional service items, the owner will be responsible for the difference in value. The total value of the 3 scheduled maintenance service offer is capped at $1,047 per customer for petrol models and $1,107 for diesel models. Additional service items may include Air filters, Pollen filters, Fuel Filter (Diesel Only), Accessory Belts, Spark Plugs, Coolants, Gear Box Oil and Brake Fluid and are not included in Capped Price Standard Service. Pricing of these additional service items, which are not included in a Capped Price Standard Service, are subject to change and should be used as a guide. Refer to http://www.renault.com.au/ownership/servicing/ capped-price-servicing for information regarding the capped price servicing of these vehicles. This offer applies to all new and on-sold demo Renault KOLEOS vehicles purchased between 03/09/2019 and 20/12/2019, and delivered prior to 31/12/19 at participating dealers only. ^7 year unlimited km warranty applies to all new and onsold demo Renault KOLEOS vehicles purchased between 02/09/19 and 20/12/19, and delivered prior to 31/12/19. Demonstrator vehicles receive balance of new vehicle warranty.

A FIrst TIme for...

Tiffiny Hall, who first rose to fame as a Gladiator then a trainer on The Biggest Loser, has many titles tucked under her black belt. This strong mama, to two-year-old Arnold, has many talents. Tiffiny is a 6th Dan taekwondo instructor, a Logie nominated TV presenter, a sports coach (she is transforming lives with her health and fitness online program TIFFXO.com) and has published many books, both health and nutrition based as well as many children’s books.

Turns out writing really is her thing! Tiff has a Bachelor of Arts/Media and Communications majoring in creative writing and journalism and a Diploma of Modern Languages (French) from the University of Melbourne! Of course she also has a Cert III & IV in Fitness and a Diploma of Sport Coaching with a specialisation in martial arts, plus she is currently completing a dual Diploma in Business and Fitness and her pilates qualifications. Go mama!

Tiff commenced her writing career as a journalist, before publishing her first health and fitness books, and in recent years has moved into children’s books. Her latest book, co-written with husband and comedian Ed Kavalee, is called ‘A First Time for Everything’.

This gorgeous picture book is a hilarious and relatable story (based on Tiff and Ed’s first year as parents) that perfectly captures all the messy, glorious chaos of a baby’s first year. We chat to Tiff about writing, fitness, life in the spotlight and the endless juggle of motherhood!

Firstly, tell us a bit about your little family.

Arnold just turned two and we survived! Ed and I are busy, like any family, juggling work schedules, Arnold’s routine, family and fun. But it’s a glorious chaotic mess. We are out of the firsts and moving onto the seconds, about to tackle toilet training!

What made you decide to pursue arts, media and comms at uni?

I loved writing. I scored a perfect 50/50 for 14

literature, classics, philosophy and english in VCE. I won the John Marsden award for creative writing and was mentored by John himself for many years. I loved creative writing but also media. Back then media was very different. No social media. I studied print journalism and broadcast. Both have come in handy as I still write so much, everything from my tiffxo blog, magazine articles, books, EDMs, fitness programs. Even though I gave away journalism after I worked in my first TV job, I still use those skills every day.

You have such a diverse career across both writing and fitness.

Your love of fitness came from your own mother. Tell us more about her.

Mum was one of the first females to earn her black belt qualification in a male dominated sport. She has taught women fitness and been all about empowering women for decades. I grew up watching the effects of her training women – they always left class smiling, feeling more confident and telling her things like ‘they had more guts’. Guts to go for a work promotion, buy a house, put themselves out there. So it wasn’t just the ‘physical’ mum was impacting, I saw her shifting women’s ‘mindsets and self-esteem’. That’s what I wanted to do.

I wanted to impact women’s self worth. Mum role modelled healthy eating and exercise but none of it was strict. She walked her talk, but she was was all about fun and loving food. No deprivation of food or exercise by punishment.

It was never about working out to ‘look’ good, but working out to ‘feel’ good.

With such a public fitness profile you were no doubt expected to ‘bounce back’ after Arnold was born. Tell us what you really did!

Ha! I didn’t. I bounced forward ever so slowly.

There was so much pressure. I said “no” to that and instead slowly and safely returned to exercise. I knew that if I punished myself to

bounce back I would hurt my relationship with exercise which I love and cherish. I also didn’t want to jeopardise my milk supply by going too hard, or sacrifice one precious moment in the baby bubble with my first born. I soaked up that time, returned to fitness when I was good and ready and took my members and audience along for the ride. I didn’t want to be a bad example and mislead women. I feel the responsibility of having a public fitness profile and wanted to teach women responsibly, that connection to your body again after birth (no matter how you birth) takes time and self love.

How has becoming a mum changed you?

Gosh I am so much more flexible and patient.

If my day is derailed I say “ah-well, there’s always tomorrow”. I am the Master of a reset!

I don’t turn a bad day into a bad week or punish myself or berate myself. I am so much more forgiving and give myself a break. I say “girl, there’s a lot going on. You’re tired, take a bath, don’t do that workout!” I take the pressure off.

As mums, we think we need to do it all and be it all. I say “take the pressure off and do your best”. I used to be a perfectionist. Now I’m a recovering perfectionist – and I strongly believe good enough is good enough!

without being strict. Find something flexible that works with kids, because you can’t be rigid with kids. They come first and we have to work around them.

And finally, there are plenty of funny references in your book ‘A First Time for Everything’. Care to share with us your funniest parenting moment to date?

It’s got to be the first time Arnold laughed. Ed was trying so hard with jokes and faces and as a professional comedian he was really taking it to heart that he couldn’t make Arnold laugh.

Then one day Ed tripped on the lounge room rug and Arnold burst out laughing. As did I! That made it into the book.

A First Time for Everything by Tiffiny Hall and Ed Kavalee and Illustrated by Anil Tortop. Published

by Allen & Unwin. allenandunwin.com RRP $19.99.

What’s your favourite thing about being a mum?

The phases! I love the phases. Solids to eating with cutlery, from bassinet to cot, from bath seat to sitting in the bath on his own, to having a shower with dad. From Arnold’s obsession with cars to construction trucks and diggers, to his most recent obsession with Paw Patrol – I just love the phases. Crawling to walking to talking. He is talking! There’s nothing my son doesn’t say. His favourite phrase is “Hakuna Matata – no worries” or “Gee whiz mumma!”

It kills me. So cute.

Best piece of advice for a busy mum trying to make time for a healthy lifestyle?

Find a coach and an expert your trust. Have a plan that includes Plan A and Plan B. Plan A doesn’t always happen when you’re ready to go and your baby does a poonami, so you need Plan B! There are so many ways to give to yourself 15

turn the page How I Beat My Bully, by Melbourne dad Niels van Hove Alice is a kind and fun girl. Alice does well at school, but something terrible is happening to her. She’s being bullied by someone she thought was her friend. She is heavily impacted, up to the point that she tells her mother she doesn’t want to live anymore. However, with some help of her mother, she discovers her inner strength, learns how to stand up for herself, makes new friends and realises that deep inside she is stronger than her bully.

How I Beat My Bully provides both children and adults with an opportunity to discuss bullying and the severe impact of it. 5 to 8 years.

Available on Amazon RRP $12.95 www.amazon.com.au www.mentaltoughness.online

My Mummy’s Magic by Shaun Bartlett Understanding where babies come from and appreciating the changes and demands on a mother’s body can be challenging for young children. My Mummy’s Magic helps them to connect with the concept of pregnancy through a child’s eyes and vivid imagination, laid out in lively art. Although the story can be enjoyed by any parent and child, it has been written so that mothers and mothers-to-be have an avenue to bond with their children over one of the most significant, but sometimes underappreciated, events of their lives. Through rhythmical rhymes, curious creatures and just a dash of magic, the baby recounts every step of the way until Mummy makes her greatest wish of all... There has never been a better answer to “where do baby’s come from?”. Available at www.littlesteps.com.au. RRP $24.95.

The Urban Escapees, by Susan Ramage The Urban Escapees is a wonderfully crafted children’s book which shows children that with increased high density living, our trees, large gardens, bushland and native flora are often demolished. The book demonstrates how this not only changes the environment for humans themselves, but also endangers the wildlife and bird life as these creatures’ homes, habitats and food supply are drastically diminished or destroyed. www.greenolivepress.com RRP $19.95

I AM ME by Silvana Philippoussis In a world that’s constantly changing, I Am Me helps create a sense of self for our little readers whilst celebrating the beauty of uniqueness.

Filled with beautiful illustrations and positive messages, ‘I Am Me’ is an interactive picture book that encourages the uniqueness of every child’s well as helps build a sense of self for a little ones through making choices... What’s your favorite color, food or sport? ages 1-5 Purchase via official website www.colourfulhand.com.or in store at The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville and Book & Paper, Williamstown.

RRP $17.95.

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Brimbank leisure centres Your destination for affordable, quality swim programs

Learn to swim Brimbank leisure centres offer swim lessons for infants through to advanced swimmers. Specialist programs are available for teens, adults and children with special needs.

Classes run seven days a week.

Based on the nationally recognised Swim and Survive Program.

Intensive Holiday Program

Aqua Play Group

Next program available: Monday 30 September – Friday 4 October 2019

Fun and guided water familiarisation classes for new parents with children aged three to 12 months old.

Five-day intensive swimming program available every school holidays for children aged three and above.

Adult and teen programs available.

Weekly sessions start Thursday 10 October 2019, 11-11.30am at Sunshine Leisure Centre.

Intensive programs are the quickest way to improve swimming ability – and a great way to stay active during school holidays.

Sunshine Leisure Centre 5 Kennedy Street, Sunshine Ph: 9249 4615

St Albans Leisure Centre 90 Taylors Road, Keilor Downs Ph: 9249 4635

384 0919

Brimbank leisure centres

the beauty of BRUSHIng Have a dry body brush at home but you’ve never really known how or why to use it?

This simple ritual is actually super beneficial and worth incorporating into your daily routine if you’re looking to transform the look and feel of the skin on your body.

Dry body brushing uses a combination of exfoliation and massage to lift and buff away dead skin cells, while encouraging lymph node drainage and increasing circulation. The result?

Brighter, smoother skin with less cellulite!

How does it work?

Body brushes are usually made up with tough, natural bristles which work to deeply massage the skin, softening any hard fat deposits existing beneath the skin’s surface, causing uneven texture. By softening these deposits, body brushing encourages the fat to distribute more evenly, allowing skin to appear softer, smoother and more even.

The benefits of dry body brushing don’t stop there, this ritual has been proven to be equally beneficial for your general health and wellbeing. Dry brushing helps to stimulate lymph flow in your body, detoxifying it naturally and helping to eliminate bacteria and toxins from the blood.

Stimulating the lymphatic system with body-brushing is also known to strengthen the immune system, promoting an overall heightened state of well-being!

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How to dry body brush • Dry body brushing can evoke a sense of energy, so we would recommend taking some time out at the beginning of your day for this ritual.

• Take a wooden, natural fibre body brush.

We love Mio Skincare’s body brush, which is made up of a combination of natural boar bristles and massaging nodules.

• Using long, smooth strokes, move the body brush over your (dry, not wet) skin, starting at your feet and moving upwards towards your heart. Avoid using rapid scrubbing motions as long, even stokes are the most beneficial for your circulation and lymphatic system.

• Continue to use the brush in an upward motion and switch to a circular, clockwise direction on your stomach.

• Follow your body brush routine with a bath or shower to cleanse the skin.

• Post shower, replenish skin with a rich, soothing body moisturiser. We love using Dermalogica’s Body Hydrating Cream after thorough exfoliation to nourish and protect the skin.

By Raisa Lorenzana, beauty guru at lookfantastic.com.au

Little Moments Change Lives...

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the beautIful truth We’ve all seen it before - brands making claims and promises that invariably fail to deliver.

These subtle (and not so subtle) marketing tactics have been around for years and are usually what determines the success of the product. However, as consumers are becoming more savvy and reading between the lines, marketers are becoming even more clever when it comes to marketing a product.

Enter Greenwashing. This is a term used to describe when a brand makes claims to be green and natural through their marketing, yet when you delve a little deeper, chances are there is more effort put into the perception rather than the actual practice. It’s when a brand promotes their products using unsubstantiated or misleading claims that lead the customer to believe that their products are natural, green or organic (when it’s actual fact, they’re only partially, or in worst cases, not at all).

Brands are strategically choosing words on labelling based purely on marketability and because the governing of this practice can be tricky, some brands are getting away with it.

Terms like ‘natural’, ‘organic’, ‘naturally derived’, ‘green’ and ‘dermatologist approved’ are all claims that are seemingly everywhere on skincare labels but sit in a grey area of confusion and unsubstantiated claims.

‘Natural’ A term seen on a lot of beauty and skincare products and for those that are mindful about what they’re putting on their skin, the word ‘natural’ can be the thing that gets the purchase across the line. However, unfortunately the term natural is often misused, and in some cases can mean that only a small percentage of a product’s ingredients is plant based or what was originally ‘natural’, has now in fact gone through a production process which now results in a less-than-natural form.

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‘Naturally derived’ In essence refers to ingredients that are derived from nature but the process means that it is then delivered in an unnatural form (so it sounds natural but may be laden in chemicals).

The phrase basically implies that components once came from a natural source but they have been altered in some way, usually delivering a chemically laden form of the original ingredient.

‘Dermatologist approved’ Sounds great in theory because who wouldn’t want to buy a product which has been endorsed by a professional, however unfortunately the case is normally that the dermatologist has been paid a nice little fee to promote the brand and its products. Which then means there’s usually little, if any, standardised testing gone into the product (meaning it could potentially be harmful for the skin).

Brands are strategically choosing words on labelling based purely on marketability ‘Toxic chemicals and #8217; Many natural brands make a lot of noise in regards to the toxic chemicals that aren’t contained in their products, such as parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulphates etc. This is a great way of shifting the focus to what’s not in their products, rather than discussing what actually is. A lot of the time these same brands contain ‘toxic chemicals’ or substitutes which are either as bad or even worse. An example of this is when brands will replace a fragrance with essential oils which have the potential to be far more sensitising to the skin than the fragrance (this is just so they can claim the ‘natural’ high ground). It’s like adding chlorine or arsenic to your product and saying they are good for us because they are natural.

‘Free from’ This is a great tactic employed by marketers to shift the focus from what’s actually in the product.

We’ve seen the labels stating ‘free from parabens, sulphates etc etc, and yet chances are the product still contains toxins.

Also know that many brands don’t include a full listing of their ingredients. Usually what can be left out is the synthetic emulsifiers and preservatives. Whilst there are mandatory standards in Australia for ingredients labelling, some ingredients can be called something else, or under a banner term (such as mentioned earlier when talking about fragrances).

What else?

In addition to important words and phrases used on product labels, you may also want to consider why you are buying the product. Just because it’s a ‘cult product’, has the cool factor or comes with pseudoscientific claims, doesn’t mean it will be right for your skin. Marketers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to make you want to buy a product and remember that they do a great job at it! Don’t believe everything you read and if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is!

By Ross Macdougald, Cosmetic Chemist and founder of Australian brand Biologi, the only 100% active organic plant serum in the world. www.biologi.com.au

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mama can Cook!

Whole roasted cauliflower with herby tahini yoghurt Ingredients

1 large head of cauliflower 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil 40g unsalted butter, melted Sea salt flakes Herby tahini yoghurt 1 cup of natural or Greek yoghurt Juice of 1 lemon Âź cup tahini (hulled) A good handful of fresh parsley leaves, roughly chopped Sea salt Freshly cracked black pepper To serve Barberries or pomegranate seeds Fresh herbs

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Method Leave the stems and leaves on the cauliflower but give them a little trim if you need to.

Bring a large saucepan to the boil. Add 2 teaspoons of sea salt. Place whole cauliflower in the water, stem side facing up at you and boil for 8 minutes. Allow to air dry in a colander (stem facing downwards now) for 10-15 minutes).

Preheat oven to 220oC. Rub the cauliflower all over with extra virgin olive oil and melted butter. Sprinkle with sea salt.

Place cauliflower in a baking dish (florets facing up) and bake for 30-40 minutes. I like to let it get burnt in places which gives a really fabulous flavour. Remove from the oven when it is golden all over and place on a serving plate.

To serve, place the cauliflower on a platter. Spoon over the herby tahini yoghurt and finish with barberries. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and a small sprinkling of sea salt.

Finish with fresh herbs.

Recipes by Melbourne mum Nellie Kerrison from Relish Mama, Melbourne’s muchloved cooking school and dinner party experience. www.relishmama.com.au

Dukkah crusted lamb cutlets with pomegranate molasses Ingredients

Method

1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses

Whisk pomegranate molasses and honey in small bowl and set aside.

1 tablespoon honey

To make the yoghurt dressing, mix together the yoghurt with 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice as well as ¼ cup tahini paste.

8 small lamb cutlets, well trimmed 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons dukkah Yoghurt dressing ½ cup natural or Greek yoghurt ¼ cup tahini paste Juice of ½ lemon Sea salt

Season lamb well with salt and olive oil while your bbq grill is reaching optimum temperature. You are looking for direct heat (all burners are on).

Once ready to grill, place cutlets on bbq and cook for 2 minutes on each side (total 4 minutes). This a delicate cut of meat so following the timing above will ensure medium rare.

Transfer lamb to a plate and very loosely cover with foil to rest and keep warm for just 1-2 minutes. Holding each cutlet by bone end, dip both sides of meat in dukkah to coat and transfer to platter.

Drizzle pomegranate mixture over cutlets and serve and dollop on the tahini yoghurt.

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behInd the sash Juxtaposition much? Westside mum Danielle can’t help but laugh.“There is a running joke within my cast and crew about the amount of times I have used the word juxtaposition in the last six months, but that is pretty much the word that sums up my life right now!”

stuck in impoverished living, twenty times over to ensure we are telling the right story, the right way, to hopefully influence change. It’s very intense and often overwhelming, but iron sharpens iron and I have an awesome team around me helping pull this off.”

During April this year, two of the most significant events of Danielle McAlpine Johnson’s life collided. Standing in the Gippsland Base Hospital she received a phone call and found out Channel 10 had picked up her Humanitarian Documentary series Behind The Sash, a project she had spent 3.5 years developing. Hours later, her mother passed away from transitional cell carcinoma. The reality of these two events is something she is still wrapping her heart and head around.

No more “plastic fantastic”… these are women of substance.

“The whole thing surpasses my human understanding, but we just have to trust. So I said yes. It meant making tough decisions in the most heart wrenching season of my life, but knowing this project’s purpose far outweighs me alone, continues to drive me forward.”

Danielle, alongside her husband, motivational artist Chico Johnson, had a week to grieve her mother, whilst nurturing her three beautiful children (Jason 18, River 7 and Nevaeh 6) through the loss of their grandmother, before starting a gruelling six months production schedule.

Behind The Sash is a 10-part documentary series that follows four powerful women as they travel the nation and abroad to shine a light on issues of injustice impacting women and children in Australia, all whilst searching for the next Mrs Australia. No more “plastic fantastic”… these are women of substance.

“The whole production has been rather surreal.

One minute we are doing a glamorous fashion shoot, the next minute we are witnessing the miracle of sight being restored right before our eyes. Other times, I am sitting in the edit suite watching discussions on suicide, or women 26

Driven by an innate passion for the next generation, Danielle is a visionary devoted to shifting the culture of Australian TV for the greater good, in particular for the female audience.

“Sometimes when I look at the way women are depicted in the media, and how that impacts our next generation, my blood boils. I have two sons and a daughter. I want my daughter to understand how a woman should carry herself and I want my sons to know how to treat and respect a women. Visa versa is of equal importance. That’s why we have created this show, in the hopes to draw attention to women of substance taking a stand within our nation. I am blessed to have an incredible Co-Producer Bessie Kay who is also a mother of two gorgeous daughters and carries this same vision. I couldn’t have pulled this off without her. Talk about women on the rise, she is one to watch!”

Danielle is joined by three other powerhouse mothers within the cast of Behind The Sash including Jyselle Des-Forges, Becky Branca and Sofia Gilinas.

“My beautiful cast members and I are very close.

We all come from a pageant background and have been through a lot together, but in fact this show isn’t about a pageant. Mrs Australia is a platform created to showcase some of Australia’s most influential and humanitarian hearted women.”

The cast have travelled to unique locations including Beagle Bay in the Kimberly to shine a light on the youth suicide rate - one of the highest in the world, to Nepal highlighting

CBM restoring sight, to the Phillipines working with Gawad Kalinga removing families from living in poverty into safe communities. Each episode is dedicated to one issue of injustice and showcases one powerful woman taking a stand. By the end of the series they will have found 10 incredible women who will all be showcased at the Mrs Australia eEvent.

“We are removing the competition element and heavily focusing on ‘celebrating’ women.

Yes, there will be only one Mrs Australia chosen but we really are celebrating these phenomenal ladies. It’s a true sisterhood, all about encouraging the revolutionary women of Australia who are making hands on effort of foreign and local aid to create a better future.

We celebrate their strength and courage. We are making goodness fashionable.”

Take the raw doco style of Ross Kemp, the charitable heart of Undercover Boss, the glamour of Australia’s Next Top Model – throw it in a pot and you have BEHIND THE SASH! Rokk Ebony is the major sponsor for Behind The Sash and have partnered with the ladies to see this messaging infiltrate the beauty industry.

“We’re incredibly blessed to have Rokk Ebony partner with us. They really are pioneers within the beauty industry on so many levels and to have them stand strong alongside us makes us forever grateful.”

“Every woman within the cast has a powerful story to share. They are all are an inspiration to me in one way or another, so to share their stories is pretty cool. I get to wake up everyday, make TV, write stories, play dress up and do it all with some of the coolest mamas on the planet.

Most importantly, it’s a purpose driven life. Kind of a dream come true. I miss my own mother dearly but she deserves a legacy that lasts. I’ve got a fire in my belly to see a shift within this industry and I believe it’s coming soon”.

Behind The Sash airs on Channel 10 Peach on Saturday 26th October at 1:30pm with an encore at 8am Sunday on Channel 10. behindthesashtv.com

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InsIde-out beauty The new trend in beauty to hit town is targeting inside-out beauty with food and supplements. One of the key ingredients popping up everywhere is collagen. But what is it, how does it work, and how effective is it really?

In order to get to the nitty-gritty, it’s really important to understand a bit more about the skin first. Skin is the largest organ of the body is made up of 3 main layers; the epidermis, the dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. Collagen is the major component of our skin’s connective tissues, and the breakdown of these is what causes wrinkles.

As we age, we lose the collagen that keeps our skin intact causing it to collapse.

The body’s ability to replenish collagen naturally decreases by about 1.5% per year. This collapse in the collagen matrix is how we develop fine lines and wrinkles. As our production decreases, the remaining collagen fibers start to stiffen and break, along with thickening and fraying of the elastin fibers.

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This consequently impacts the skin elasticity, structure, and firmness, resulting in the appearance of aged, wrinkled skin and fine lines.

Now, research can give us a fresh look at how beauty is created. We see skin beauty clearly does come from better skin function, from eating the right skin nutrients. Taking a collagen supplement allows the skin to rebuild itself and return to a more youthful state.

So what is it really?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, found in the bones, muscles, skin, and tendons. It makes up one-third of the total protein found within the body and makes up three-quarters by weight of dried skin.

Collagen has predominately been used in the past in skin care creams, only now, with science behind it, we have a different approach to using collagen.

It is important for people to know that not all collagen is the same! The best collagen has been hydrolysed into small chains of amino acids called peptides that escape digestion and pass directly into the bloodstream, heading to where they’re needed the most.

Collagen supplementation is one way to support the body’s ability to produce collagen.

Hydrolysed collagen consists of small peptides with low molecular weight, making it easily digestible, absorbed and distributed in the human body.

Hydrolysed collagen is derived from the naturally present collagen within the bones, skin and connective tissue of animals (i.e. cows, pigs, and fish). The process of hydrolysis is very important, as in this case, size does matter, the smaller the better.

What are Hydrolysed Collagen Peptides?

Hydrolysed Collagen Peptides are amino acid chains from collagen (protein) that have been ‘hydrolysed’ to break them into smaller pieces called peptides.

These small chains of amino acids bypass digestion and enter the body so they can be used to build collagen, replenish collagen stores, and stimulate collagen production, so you can see why the smaller the chain the better.

It is therefore important to ensure your collagen supplement has been produced optimally to ensure bioavailability and scientifically researched to ensure it is only the highest quality product.

So, the next obvious question is, do collagen supplements really work? Research showing the benefit of collagen supplementation is growing, some of the studies have shown collagen supplementation can; • Improve skin elasticity and skin smoothness, plus decreases the number of facial wrinkles, wrinkle areas and wrinkle depth after 8 weeks • Increase the moisture content of the skin after 6 weeks, resulting in decreased dryness, decreased oiliness and decreased acne • Decrease potential of premature aging from UV exposure • Improve hydration and elasticity and decrease the appearance of wrinkles in human skin at a dose of as little as 1g once daily Is it time to add Collagen to your skin care routine?

By Cheryl Stewart, Morlife Co-Founder www.morlife.com

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happIly ever after “Once upon a time there lived a girl” was the start to pretty much every fairy tale I read in my youth.

Growing up in the slow sunny beach town of Coffs Harbour, castles and fairy godmothers seemed a world away. The only great adventure was going to the beach after school or getting a Bubble O’Bill from the ice cream van. Would a handsome prince come and rescue me one day, I wondered?

Being one of four girls in my family, there was a strong feminist undercurrent to my upbringing.

My mother told us that a) education was our gateway to opportunity and b) women are equal to men, if not MORE powerful due to our multitasking abilities, whilst my father taught me about the importance of a strong work ethic, being a self-employed labourer and how to never give up. Both raised me to have deep empathy and a willingness to help those in need. Being a damsel in distress was never on the cards.

Now I look back on my ‘fairy tale’ life and realise how different it was to the stories I was told. I do live in a castle (as we bought a home West Footscray) and I married my prince, but the happily ever after part is something I still need to work hard on every day.

You may not know this, but I live with mental health challenges. Yes, even princesses can have them. Not many people get to see this side of me and some just don’t ‘get it’, because unfortunately, mental illness is often misunderstood.

One of the key issues for those suffering with a mental illness is having an overwhelming sense of isolation and lack of self-worth. You may want help, however feel unable to ask, accept it or worthy of receiving it. You could have wonderful friends and family around you, but you still feel a void.

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In my early 20’s I got outside help for my anxiety and was at a stage where it was manageable. I knew my triggers and worked on past issues. However, once I had my children, my anxiety had paired up with post natal depression and I was unable to keep the negative feelings at bay any longer.

The sleep deprivation, trying to raise healthy happy babies, and running a household lead me into a deep fog. I am not the first mother to go through this and unfortunately, I won’t be the last. We all know someone with mental health challenges, be it diagnosed or not.

Mental health can creep up on you, like a villain in a story. It can rob you of light moments, trick you into thinking it is all your fault, scare you into silence and even shame you. I was surrounded by loving and supportive people, but it still got me.

I am not ashamed of having anxiety and PND, in fact the exact opposite. I now use every opportunity I can get to talk about it. Why? Because it can free you, connect you and heal you.

Through the help of a coach and doing my mental homework, I am no longer looking for the reasons why it happened to me. Instead I am looking at ways I can use it to help other mothers.

Over the past year I have turned my experience around to become my biggest motivator. I created Bad Mums Club in January 2019 and we are now over 1000 voices strong. Often mothers put themselves and their health on the bottom of the priority list, but at Bad Mums Club you are at the very top. Prevention of isolation and maintaining a positive mental wellbeing is key in breaking the cycle. Through workshops, events, and free campaigns, we are connecting like-minded mothers. We offer space where they can be themselves, no fluff or filter.

“Mental health can creep up on you, like a villain in a story.”

Aligning with Beyond Blue as a fundraiser and ambassador has given me a fantastic to opportunity to be in service to mothers across Melbourne.

This princess wears a lot of hats – wife, stay at home/work from home mum, and official Bad Mumma. The juggle to wear all of those hats at once can be triggering, to say the least.

But I can now stand strong in my power pose, knowing that I can be the voice for those mother’s unable to speak up.

I use social media, podcasts, interviews and public speaking to draw attention to the growing need for services, changes to mental health policies and social stigma. I am not a martyr, I am a Mumma and my life lessons have led me to where I am today. And I will keep pushing for greater social awareness and change.

Once upon a time there was a girl who rescued herself. She was rich in experiences and not gold which suited her just fine. She lived happily, no, sincerely, every after.

“Once upon a time there lived a girl”

By Lisa Kroesche Boyce, West Footscray mama and founder of the Bad Mums Club www.badmumsclub.com Join Lisa at her BAD MUMS CLUB XMAS Party on Nov 30. An epic year deserves an EPIC celebration. www.badmumsclub.com/tickets/xmasparty

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Spend a day with zoologist Chris Humfrey, from Animal Planet’s new series “Chris Humfrey's Animal Instinct”, at his very own private zoo in Mount Macedon, just 50min from Melbourne’s CBD. Get up close and personal with over 2000 animals with this hands-on experience which is offered nowhere else.

Chris has personally designed this exclusive program, with strictly limited numbers of children, to ensure your child gets the best WILD experience possible!

Bookings and Enquiries ww.wildaction.com.au Phone 0419 385 245

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WIN

Arts Centre Melbourne presents a CDP Kids & Salspot Production

Based on the books by Eric Hill

LIVE ON STAGE

1 of 3 Family Passes to:

See www.mamamag.com.au for terms and conditions.

Parent’s email will be added to our monthly MamaMail. You can opt out at any time.

Eric Hill’s beloved puppy comes to life on stage with puppetry, songs, and puzzles for children aged 3+ and their adults.

Arts Centre Melbourne, 13-17 November, 2019. Tickets on sale now! www.artscentremelbourne.com.au Simply colour to WIN!

Worth

$156 each!

Copyright © Salspot Ltd 2019. Original artwork © The Eric and Gillian Hill Family Trust 2013-2018. FUN WITH SPOT™ Salspot Ltd. All rights reserved.

Post to: MamaMag Spot Comp, PO Box 8018, North Road LPO, Brighton East 3187 by Oct 31st.

Child’s name:

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THE SUMMER RUB How to prevent that nasty old thigh chafe this Summer!

Come on, admit it... at one time or another, a lot of us have experienced the pain that thigh chafing can cause! The weather warms up that little bit more and BAM, our legs start to rub! But don’t worry, inner thigh chafing is a problem felt by women and men of all shapes and sizes.

Chafing is characterised by irritated sore skin on the inner thighs and will usually blister due to the combination of constant friction and excessive sweating. The first sign that chafing is occurring is a hot spot, just like with blisters on your feet. As soon as you feel a hot spot somewhere, stop and check if the area is red and irritated, take the time to address the issue before damage to the skin occurs.

So how do I prevent chafing between my legs?

1. Keep it dry Sweating when it’s hot, or when exercising can make chafing worse. One useful trick is to keep a small tub of anti-chafing powder in your bag so you can sprinkle some on to absorb excess moisture when you’re out and about.

2. Lubricate your skin A bit of lubrication will help your thighs glide past each other, rather than pulling or rubbing the skin. There are some anti chafing balms on the market that you can apply to the insides of your thighs before walking to help protect against chafing effectively. These are available at most pharmacies.

3. Reduce friction One of the best ways to help prevent thigh chafing is also one of the simplest: wear appropriate clothing. When you’re teaming a skirt or dress with bare legs, it’s easy for your thighs to rub together, so investing in some anti-chafing shorts specially designed

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to stop chafing. Anti-chafing shorts will create a comfortable barrier between your thighs. Ensure you purchase them with moisture wicking fibres to ensure you remain comfortable all day long!

4. Say no to cotton Cotton is great for lounging and everyday wear, but as soon as you work up a sweat, it will take a long time to dry and can cause painful skin irritation when it rubs. Choose synthetic fibres, preferably with moisture-wicking technology, to remove the excess moisture from your skin.

Following these four measures will ensure you remain chafe free, but you might be reading this thinking, oh no I’ve already got chafed thighs! Well, I can help you get your inner thigh skin looking smooth and help reduce the redness with three strategies.

How do you get rid of chafing fast?

1. Gently clean the affected area and dry thoroughly – Make sure you are showering daily as a build-up of sweat on the skin can cause your inner thighs to chafe. If you can’t shower and you feel a build-up of sweat use a body wipe to ensure the area is clean.

2. Wear protective clothing – Wet and damp clothing will increase chafing so ensure the garment you have removes moisture from the skin. Products with moisture-wicking technology are the most effective in doing this.

As mentioned earlier, there are specific antichafing shorts on the market that are perfect for this. I would recommend investing in a good pair as these will be the best investment you ever make!

3. Go and see a health care professional if there is any skin damage – They can advise the best treatment to heal the affected area.

You can also plan to put preventive measures in place to ensure you never experience the pain and burn from chafe again.

Ideally, it’s best to identify when chafing may occur and be prepared. Choose your product whether it be powder, lubricant or specialised anti-chafing garment. Think about the situation: are you at a sporting event and will experience chafing all day? In this case, specialised antichafing clothing will be best. Will you be mostly in air conditioning and the area will be fairly dry so you can visit the bathroom regularly and apply a powder or lubricant to the area to prevent the chafing? Different preventives can work in different situations or depending where your chafe points are.

If you experience inner thigh chafing regularly, well, you could wear pants all year round! But if you’re like me and you love fashion, then you probably couldn’t go without a maxi skirt or pretty dress. So how do I do this without the dreaded chafe? For permanent results the best product for anti-chafing is a specialised anti-chafing short, they are specifically designed to prevent chafing, and you won’t be putting your skin at risk when you are unable to reapply powder or lubricants.

Hopefully, some of my tips will help you combat your chafe and keep you looking fabulous and comfortable in your dresses and skirts all year round.

By Vanessa Babuin-Perera, Founder of Sonsee Woman, a hosiery, anti-chafing shorts and intimates brand catered to sizes 10-28. www.sonseewoman.com

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Get your walking shoes on and let’s walk together to raise awareness for mental health in aim to help reduce stigma and accept diversity.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WALK Commonwealth Reserve Williamstown Sunday 13th October 2019, 9am–12pm Wear something GREEN mental health related illnesses.

Everyone of all ages welcome. Bring your family and friends along to share in a walk, sausage sizzle, live performances, mental kids football clinic and jumping castle.

See our Facebook page for more information facebook.com/walkamileinmyshoeswilliamstown Proudly supported by

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#WAMIMS

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Helping mums & dads navigate the juggling act of parenthood.

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ballet classes for 3-8 year olds 1/65 ferguson st, williamstown 0488 949 992 www.tinyballetdancers.com

Developed by a Clinical Psychologist, the Compassionate Parent App offers strategies in managing emotions and thoughts to help individuals and couples mentally and emotionally in their parenting journey. With user friendly tools for busy parents, users can personalise their own toolbox using the favourite strategies feature.

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emotIonally aware Developing emotional awareness and coping skills As a loving parent our aim is to raise a kind respectful child, who can carry the family values they are raised with into adulthood.

We often hope that our children will take life’s childhood lessons with them to be a balanced adult who can navigate the life hurdles of assertiveness versus agreeableness, and risk taker versus calculated decision maker, amongst the many other life see-saw moments that exist.

In today’s world parents often find themselves negotiating the dilemmas of screen time and trying to balance work and family time. While many report being able to successfully find resources in these areas, finding resources in other areas such as emotional health can be more challenging.

Some of the best ways to help your child understand what they are experiencing at an emotional level is by reading a book together.

Knowing where to turn to find helpful resources and strategies to assist in introducing skills such as mindfulness and develop children’s emotional awareness can be like trying to find a needle in haystack. Many parents report trying to educate themselves in strategies to build flourishing mental health skills in their families such as resilience, positivity and emotional awareness and often need a resource to help them in starting these discussions with their children.

Some of the best ways to help your child understand what they are experiencing at an emotional level is by reading a book together.

Reading not only has the obvious educational benefit but also allows the parent child connection and bond to further grow. It gives parents a script to focus on and provides a

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starting point for introducing concepts such as feelings and coping with emotions. Reading together is a great way to teach your child, to role model and allows for discussion of new ideas and concepts. Following are some recommended resources you may find helpful for developing emotional awareness, and mindfulness skills in children.

1. Beautiful Oops

By Barney Saltzberg.

This book if well suited to anyone who has ever said “Oops” or made a mistake, which is most likely all of us! As parents read this book children are introduced to the idea that a mistake can be reframed into an opportunity.

The book outlines how spills to bent paper are all opportunities to celebrate and create, allowing children to normalise mistakes and to build ways of coping through seeing their potential. It provides parents with a base to start discussions about coping with mistakes, being creative and introducing concepts such as responsibility and problem solving, while taking the emphasis off perfection.

2. In My Heart: A Book of Feelings Written by Jo Witek and illustrated by Christine Roussey.

This beautiful book is centred upon a girl explaining that her heart is full of feelings and emotions. Each page describes a feeling in an engaging and child friendly way, as well as how to handle the feeling when it is experienced.

Parents when reading the book are able to discuss the feelings further by asking their child questions like “have you ever felt this feeling” “how does this felt in your heart” or “when have you feel this feeling”.

3. ABC Mindful Me

By Christine Engel.

An engaging and delightfully illustrated book that allows children an introduction to understanding mindfulness. A great first mindfulness book based on introducing ideas and skills for mindfulness via the ABC. Many parents would feel confident reading this with their child having no previous mindfulness experience themselves, as the book is written at an introductory level with straight forward ideas for skills including paying attention to your world and noticing joy.

The underlying themes from positive psychology principles of gratitude and kindness-based strategies shine though in a calm and practical way.

4. Breathe Like a Bear

By Kira Willey and illustrated by Anni Betts.

This beautifully written book introduces parents and children to 30 mindful exercises with the intention of helping children to feel calm, to relax and to focus. The exercises are playful, imaginative and gently introduce mindfulness techniques to children through animals and story. The engaging illustrations capture children’s attention and imagination as parents work through the book allowing children to find their favourite exercises and to build skills in mindfulness.

It is great for parents to practice these exercises with their children and to role model some of the practices.

5. The Whole-Brian Child

By Daniel J Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.

One for the parents, The Whole-Brian Child by Daniel J Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson is a great read for parents who are looking to understand more about how a child’s brain matures and develops, or how to assist children in growing their emotional intelligence. The Whole-Brain Child helps parents learn how to manage day to day struggles, toddler tantrums, and big emotions. The illustrations help understand the concepts and implement the key tools in the parent-child world. This book is a must read for parents wanting to better understand their children’s emotional development, their children’s emotional responses and the ways they can help their children in emotional development and expression.

By Christie Arbuckle, Director and Clinical Psychologist at Growth Pursuit Consulting and Creator of The Compassionate Parent App. www.thecompassionateparent.com.au

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It’s cool to be kInd Telling my story never gets any easier. What it does do is strengthen my positivity and serves as a reminder that I am exactly where I am meant to be.

I’m not going to tell my story from the beginning because we would be here until Christmas (and that’s coming around way too fast as it is) so I’ll start from the part that defines me the most. In 2008, I was bitten by a spider and ended up with something called Guillain Barre Syndrome. What this did was put me on life support, paralysed and although I was told I would get better, nobody could say when. I had to learn to walk again and I look at babies learning to walk in a whole new light because it’s bloody tough! I remember this was at an age where I’d get news of people getting married and having kids and I couldn’t even push the hair out of my eyes. Mum was a pillar of strength and told me over and over again that it wasn’t a race and that it would happen.

My motivation has never wavered and although the days were long, I did learn to walk again and just months after leaving the hospital, I met my now husband, found a job and moved from Adelaide to Perth. I’m pretty sure my family put me on the plane thinking I’d be back.

How wrong they were!

Matt and I were engaged six months after meeting and married just over a year later. Of course, becoming parents was on the list of things to do but a further health setback meant we had to wait. I kept getting pelvic cysts which would put me in the hospital and unfortunately nobody could pinpoint where they were coming from. Eventually, my surgeon said it was too risky to keep draining them and that a hysterectomy was the only way to go. I was 32.

Consulting an IVF specialist, we were told that there was no chance of harvesting any eggs either and it was in this 10-minute consult that life changed dramatically.

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What followed was a harrowing journey from both a mental and physical standpoint. The operation itself was the easy part, although I did not appreciate being in recovery and having the Registrar waltz in, saying “We took your uterus” then walk out. I’m not exaggerating that either.

I had been told to prepare for sudden onset menopause but wasn’t prepared for it being within a matter of hours. I remember being in the hospital bed with tubes galore, and four fans directed on me because I was so hot. I also wanted to be naked while everyone else had their jumpers on. Unfortunately, this operation didn’t go as smoothly as we liked and in 2017, two years after the original surgery, I had 10 operations and months in hospital. But once again, I was determined to get better. And I did just that.

In November 2017 I was at the shops when I saw a teenager knock over an elderly lady and not stop. That to me is unfathomable and was all it took for me to challenge the people of Perth to be kind. In what I call my 3am moment of madness, I designed and printed 50 kindness cards which I then hid around Perth. With no expectation of response, I was amazed when in total, I got 32 responses! One gentleman took a homeless man out for lunch, a lady with cancer said she needed perspective so volunteered at a shelter and one of my favourites, “I washed Mum’s car without her asking. She was stoked!”

Earlier this year, I let an elderly gentleman go before me in the queue. I had way more items (of course I did — there is no way I could shop for one item if my life depended on it!) and I wasn’t in a rush. When I did, he stopped with a look of shock on his face. It took all I had to ask if he was okay and he responded by saying he was finding it hard to work out what he was feeling because nobody had been kind to him in such a long time. All I did was let him go in front of me.

Situations like this strengthen my resolve to continue to make a difference and in the last few months, I’ve had responses from individuals who have found kindness cards in Philadelphia and Arizona, which is totally mind-blowing.

The Cool To Be Kind Project was officially launched in January 2018 and has now gone global. On August 6th Arianna Huffington tweeted my story herself which was a huge “wow” moment in itself!

Our 52 Weeks of Kindness campaign started on September 1st. This won’t be your typical kindness challenge because I believe kindness to be a part of self-care, therefore, challenges will also include mindset, positivity and reflection. Our first challenge? Simply start by trying to see the best in people.

We all have the opportunity to make a choice: to look at life a little bit differently, maybe with a softer and kinder heart. More importantly, we all have the opportunity to build our best lives.

Who knows if children are in our future but I’m no longer sitting around waiting for that to happen. Instead, I’m lending my nurturing ways to the hearts of others in the hopes that I can help them find their way out of their darkness and into the light of new dreams.

By Naomi Lambert, Founder and CEO, The Cool To Be Kind Project. www.thecooltobekindproject.org @thecooltobekindproject

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When words get stuck When you were at school, do you remember having a classmate who stuttered? The child was probably a boy, because stuttering affects boys more often than girls. When that child spoke, you heard them repeating words like “and, and, and”, stretching out sounds like “Mmmmummy”, and sometimes there may have been silences, when nothing came out at all. The child may have been talkative, persisting in spite of his difficulty, or quiet, painfully embarrassed by it.

There’s every chance you do recall such a child, because stuttering is a relatively common speech difficulty. It affects up to 11% of children in Australia, though many will not take stuttering into their adult years.

Some children will stop stuttering naturally, and others will do so after attending a speech pathologist. About 1% will continue to stutter into their adolescent and adult years.

Importantly, it is not possible to predict which child will stop stuttering (with or without treatment) and which will go on to stutter into adulthood. The cause of stuttering is unknown, but it is a physical rather than a psychological problem, and it runs in families, which suggests there is a genetic basis to it.

A struggle for children…

While in the media and film stuttering is often depicted as amusing, it is anything but funny to those affected by it. At minimum, stuttering reduces how much a child can say, and the speed at which they can say it. Often friends and family will finish off the sentences for the child who stutters. For many who stutter, this makes talking frustrating. However, for a child who stutters, there is also consequence because stuttering attracts reactions from others. Sadly, those reactions are almost always negative. Children as young as three years react to classmates who stutter. Their reactions may be copying, laughing, or excluding. While many of these reactions may not be observed by teachers, they are acutely noticed by the 44

child who stutters and may impact their psychological well-being long into the future.

But help is at hand…

Clearly, prevention is the best medicine, and therefore speech therapy aims to prevent stuttering from continuing, thereby reducing its impact. The good news is that Australia is a world leader in the treatment of early stuttering.

Our researchers have developed treatments for preschool children that have been tested and shown to be effective in helping to reduce, and in many cases, remove stuttering altogether.

The most well known and best researched of these treatments is called The Lidcombe Program. The Lidcombe Program is not only widely used in Australia, it is also used in many countries internationally. Children typically enjoy going to their speech pathologists because therapy is play based, and speech pathologists are highly skilled at engaging children in enjoyable activities. The speech pathologist teaches the child’s parents how to do the therapy, so that therapy can be given in a very natural, unobtrusive way.

If your child stutters…

When a child begins to stutter, it can be very distressing for parents because it usually appears out of the blue. Parents may wonder what changes have occurred in the child, or their environment, that may have prompted the stuttering to begin. Parents can also be confused because stuttering can come and go. The best action to take is to see a speech pathologist who has experience with children who stutter. That speech pathologist can assess the child’s speech and make recommendations about if and when therapy should commence.

Sometimes therapy may be recommended soon after a child begins to stutter, and at other times it may be suggested that the child’s speech be monitored for a short while. In either case, parents often feel very reassured and empowered after meeting with a speech pathologist, because they are provided with

clear information about stuttering and the therapies that are available. Maternal and Child Health Nurses, General Practitioners and Speech Pathology Australia can all put parents in touch with speech pathologists nearby.

How to help at home‌ 1. Do let your child finish their sentences 2. Do reassure if your child appears distressed 3. Do allow your child extra time to speak 4. Do be alert to any negative reactions (words or actions) of others 5. Do encourage participation in everyday activities 6. Do seek the advice of a speech pathologist

By Dr Brenda Carey, speech pathologist at Brenda Carey Stuttering Treatment Centre. www.mystutteringspecialist.com

Stuttering affects up to 11% of children in Australia

STAR OF THE SHOW Why choose an agency specialising in child talents?

With some kids, from the day they can walk, you can just tell that they were born to be in front of the camera. For those with talented kids who love the limelight and were born to entertain, signing up to a talent agency can be a great idea to get them in the limelight. But finding the right agency to align with can be an extremely difficult decision.

To make things easier Adam Jacobs, shares his top five reasons on why parents should consider a child talent agency...

1. An overall better experience for your child The show biz industry can be quite stressful, so agencies that represent all ages can tend to take a much more serious approach.

This can be quite intimidating for children, especially when they’re in an environment that is predominantly adults. The fun can also be culled from the overall experience and you might find that staff are a little less experienced with children. Look for an agency that goes out of their way to create a fun and vibrant space.

It’s so important to us that our kids feel inspired and empowered when they step through the door, not intimidated.

2. Broaden your horizons Industry professionals and casting directors generally go straight to a talent agency with their briefs, for a much quicker and more proficient process. Signing with an agency opens the doors to a world of opportunities.

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3. Improve skills Auditions and casting calls can be an intimidating process. Look for in-house workshops to improve skills before you get thrown into the deep end. Parents have peace of mind knowing that their child is attending a workshop in a familiar environment, rather than searching for outside sources that you may be unsure about.

4. Portfolios become a simple process Portfolios are essential in this industry. Casting directors expect to see professional headshots upon request. What differentiates Bubblegum Casting from many agencies is that folio shots are done in-house and are included in the welcome package, rather than just recommending a local photographer - like a lot of other agencies do.

5. Make friends while making magic!

A child focused talent agency gives the opportunity for both parents and children to spend time with other like-minded souls and share their experiences so far within the industry. When parents and kids chat with each other, it can be a helpful process to offer each other support and prepare better for auditions.

Choosing the right talent agency can either make or break your dreams of becoming a star, so it is essential to ensure that you opt for one that has your best interests at heart - with a fun and relaxed environment.

By Adam Jacobs, Founder, Bubblegum Casting. www.bubblegumcasting.com.au

Celebrate Brimbank Community Day Location:

Kevin Flint Memorial Reserve 142A Furlong Road Cairnlea

Date:

Sunday 20 October 2019

Event Time: 10am-4pm Join your community and be part of the celebrations Featuring: Cultural performances Musical acts Craft and Circus workshops Roving performers Petting zoo Face painting Sports expo Photo booth

The We Are Brimbank Awards will be announced at this event Food available for purchase For more information visit brimbank.vic.gov.au/ celebratebrimbank Details correct at the time of printing 372-0919

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The kids tell you Y.

“I built eleventy rocket ships with my friend Max” Arlo 3

At YMCA Early Learning Centres we believe learning should be a fun, engaging and interactive experience for your child. Our Centres include regular excursions and incursions, indoor and outdoor play, long opening hours and flexible session lengths.

Book a tour today on (03) 8371 0500 or visit childrensprograms.ymca.org.au TAYLORS HILL | DERRIMUT | POINT COOK | KOROROIT CREEK | TRUGANINA SOUTH