Issue 002 by Mini Me Magazine

contents 12

about us

Mini Me Magazine – the home of everything little and lovely! Mini Me Magazine is published online every two months so is FREE to you and I hope will be a place where you can find little gems of information about parties, fashion, food, activities and so much more... To see each copy of the magazine all you need to do is like us on facebook (click image below) as each issue will be published on facebook or click on the green FOLLOW icon on the bottom left of your screen.

To get in contact with me just click on one of the icons below. I look forward to hearing from you and hope you love Mini Me Magazine as much as I do!

julia JULIA CLARKE Editor / Publisher

hello! I have been so humbled since the release of issue one -‐ the support from you all has been amazing, thank you so much! I have some amazing NZ businesses featured in this issue so please support them, there are some gorgeous gift ideas and I even have some of your little ones as part of my new feature Mini Me Stars ♥ I am just moments away from the arrival of my little boy and the excitement is growing day by day as I get closer to meeting him. I can’t wait to share the news with you all -‐ My Mini Me family. I hope you love this issue as much as the last. Have an absoultely wonderful Christmas and New Year period and be safe! Julia x Copyright © Mini Me Magazine. Mini Me Magazine contains general information only and is not a substitute for health or parenting advice. All resonable care is taken in the preparation of this magazine and its contents but the publisher, editor and authors cannot be held legally responsible for errors in content of this magazine or loss arising from such errors. Readers are advised to seek a doctors or health professionals advice on all health matters. The publisher, editors or any authors do not accept liability whatsoever in respect to action taken by readers in relevance to recommendations set out in this magazine. Opinions expressed or information given in this magazine should never replace medical advice and are only our opinions.

issue 002 december & january www.sheeragordon.co.nz

MINI ME

monsters!

Each issue we will be publishing questions about challenges you are facing. We will then be asking our facebook fans for answers…a great way to get unbiased, real solutions to the little things that make our little ones -‐ little monsters! Make sure you like our facebook page to keep up to date with the answers

Which is best? Baby lead weaning or old school start with rice cereal to mushy foods then chunkier foods until whole foods?

What are the most helpful things I can do as a new Dad to help out my wife?

Simon

Jasmine

My 2 year won’t sleep alone...I am so tired from having to constantly be with her, please help me, any ideas would be greatly appreciated!! Sleepless Mum

Do Amber Beads really work? And if not what are your tips for teething?

Caroline

My 7 year old has started lying – any ideas on how to handle this would be really great as we are stuck for what to do next

Melissa

Gorgeous Party Ideas From

Centre of Attention The Heirloom Eat Cake Pop Roc Parties

Images from www.allthefrills.co.nz

Specialising in stylish & elaborate parties, our styling offers that personal touch that's uniquely you through your chosen colour scheme and theme. Whether it's a whimsical birthday, a dainty baby shower or an anniversary to be remembered, we pay close attention to detail and our handcrafted expertise enables us to create something truly exceptional!

Supplying quality products and working with high end suppliers, Centre of Attention is perfect for busy mums and dads or if you wish to manage your own party and you simply need inspiration and guidance we can we can work together to create this, we even hire out our products!

www.centreofattention.co.nz Â

D.I.Y Windmills CLICK HERE

eat cake!

Eat Cake is a world where we are passionate about cakes, sugarcraft and all things sweet.

We are a boutique business located on the North Shore of Auckland and strive to be a place where your ideas and dreams are turned into delicious works of edible art! Here at Eat Cake we are completely obsessed with all things cake and will work together with you to handcraft the perfect cake for your special day, be it your wedding, birthday, anniversary or any other special occasion!

www.facebook.com/KiwiEat.Cake

D.I.Y Advent Calendar CLICK HERE

Pop Roc Parties is an Auckland based online boutique providing unique products for customers to create personalised weddings, events and parties.

We specialise in products perfect for creating bespoke dessert tables and stylized DIY events. Whether it be an intimate dinner party, a wedding or a child's birthday party, Pop Roc parties provides a wide range of products to allow customers to truly create exclusive party favors, table settings and other personal decorative touches.

If a little lost for inspiration, customers can view our photo galleries, which showcase our products on our Facebook and Pinterest pages. www.poprocparties.co.nz

For Our Little Treasures From

Little & Loved Petite Babe Box of Softies Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Baby Boy Boutique Kathy Fray Sew Babylicious Bee My Baby

Images from www.ymamay.com

WET

and wild!

gift guide!

Mini Teepee from Nature Baby $89.95 www.naturebaby.co.nz, W ooden Ride On Fire Engine from Baby Boy Boutique $189 www.babyboyboutique.co.nz, Cupcake Cushion from Pretty Little Things $64.95 www.prettylittlethings.co.nz, Ragdoll AU$59 from www.eenimeeni.com, Storage Bin from Little & Loved $75 www.littleandloved.co.nz, Finn & Emma Pacifier from Baby Boy Boutique www.babyboyboutique.co.nz. Prices listed may change without notice and may vary from time of publishing.

Little & Loved is a company, owned and operated by a 'stay at home Mum', passionate about living sustainably. By carefully selecting suppliers who share the same values, you can buy with confidence knowing our products are both good for your little ones and our environment. Our products have been chosen with this in mind, to help save space and time without sacrificing quality or Mother Earth. We stock a huge range of internationally recognised brands and New Zealand made products, including my own line of natural and organic baby care products. Passionate about natural & organic products for little & loved Kiwis

www.littleandloved.co.nz

history of the christmas stockings! There was a kindly nobleman whose wife had died of an illness leaving the nobleman and his three daughters in despair. After losing all his money the family had to move into a peasant's cottage and when it came time for the daughters to marry, the father became even more depressed as his daughters could not marry without dowries, money and property given to the new husband's family. One night after the daughters had washed out their clothing they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That night Saint Nicholas, knowing the despair of the father, stopped by the nobleman's house. Looking in the window Saint Nicholas saw that the family had gone to bed. He also noticed the daughters stockings. Inspiration struck Saint Nicholas and he took three small bags of gold from his pouch and threw them one by one down the chimney and they landed in the stockings. The next morning when the daughters awoke they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married. The nobleman was able to see his three daughters marry and he lived a long and happy life. This is where we received the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings for kids. In some countries children have similar customs, in France the children place their shoes by the fireplace, a tradition dating back to when children wore wooden peasant shoes. In Holland the children fill their shoes with hay and a carrot for the horse of Sintirklass. In Hungary children shine their shoes before putting them near the door or a windowsill and in Puerto Rico children put greens and flowers in

small boxes and place them under their beds for the camels of the Three Kings.

PetitBebe specialises in OOAK (one of a kind) kids couture, unique baby gifts, imaginative toys & accessories that you will not find elsewhere! Browse current sale items or request a custom order through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/petitbebe

PetitBebe also has an instant download PDF pattern store full of ideas for home sewing enthusiasts who want to try their own hand at creating some in-‐house PetitBebe couture.

Visit our pattern store: http://www.craftsy.com/user/2252101/pattern-‐store

D.I.Y Little Friends CLICK HERE

little booklovers! THE GREAT BIRD POO WAR When a bird flying above plops on Little Pukeko's head, he declares war -‐ the ground-‐dwelling birds against the flying birds. The plovers, the parakeets, the cockatoos, the cuckoos, the blackbirds and the bluebirds -‐ and many others -‐ join in, and soon every bird is covered in slop! STOMP BY RUTH PAUL A dinosaur follow-‐the-‐leader story! Follow these colourful dinosaurs as they HOP, STOMP and ROAR their way through the pages of this beautifully illustrated book. On the outward journey the largest dinosaur leads, until they can go no further ...then on the way back, it's baby dinosaur who gets to lead.

MY DADDY ATE AN APPLE So what happens if you eat an apple with a green worm inside? Not just any worm, of course, but a fuzzy one, a buzzy one, a great big fat juicy one! Children will love this story about Daddy Zebra's trip to hospital -‐ and the surprise ending!

Welcome to Box of Softies where all our products are handmade with ♥ Are you wanting something gorgeous and unique for the little one in your life? Come visit me over at Box of Softies and fall in love with one of our stunning pieces. We have a range of clothing, bibs and accessories plus a little something for expectant mummy's. www.facebook.com/BoxofSofties

pure newborn!

Our unique lifestyle collections of Apparel, Bedlinen, Toys and Accessories for children 0-‐12 years are our interpretation of exploring the connection between textiles and the creative process. Each collection embodies our habitual characteristics of combining natural fibres with a harmonious palette. From global inspiration we create innovative, practical, contemporary products that reflect the lifestyle and attitude of today’s urbane child. Each piece is filled with the heart + soul of a truly passionate team and should provide enjoyment to everyone with an interest in design. www.eenimeeni.com

www.babyboyboutique.co.nz

The Baby Boy Boutique emerged out of a frustration of not being able to find stylish, good quality boys clothing and accessories in one easy location for the little man in our lives. Baby Boy Boutique provides a great variety of boys clothes to all those frustrated at the sea of pink on the market. They cater for mums and dads who want stylish, functional and stand-‐out clothing and accessories for their little princes. At the Baby Boy Boutique we understand how important it is to have our baby boys looking dapper, they also stock a large range of organic clothing. Now you and your mini man can feel good and safe about the products you wear and play in – as well as looking great. We also love that The Baby Boy Boutique is a New Zealand owned and operated business

www.babyboyboutique.co.nz

toddlers to teens!

advice from midwife & author of oh baby and oh grow up -‐ Kathy Fray With babies, we know we need to show love, affection and attention.

With toddlers we need to show freedom, encouragement and respect.

But from preschoolers onwards our role gets more complex: we need to teach giving, sharing, truth, insight, discrimination, self awareness, responsibility and ultimately independence.

The main point to realise with preteens is that if you think you don’t know what’s going on in your kid’s sex life, then you’re probably right – and if you think you do know, then you’re probably wrong. We need to tell our preteens that no question is off limits.

Research shows that children immersed in conversation during the first two years later acquire a wider vocabulary for the rest of their lives.

So yabber, yabber and yabber away to your little one. It’s like brain food. It is brain food. So do be chatty!

= WIN ME

image by www.juliewillettsphotography.co.nz

Sew Babylicious is an online boutique specializing in beautifully handmade products for the nursery and beyond.

They have a wide range of products for babies, small children and you yummy Mummy’s. Fabrics and designs are unique, modern and practical.

Their products are designed with the latest styles and trends in mind whilst being affordable.

If you have an idea of something you would like for your nursery but just can’t find it…Sew Babylicious can help! They also do custom orders.

https://www.facebook.com/SewBabylicious

MINI ME

star!

This months Mini Me Star is LILLIE, she is 16 weeks and loves splashing in the bath, Mummies boobies and her fur pet friends! 1. What’s Santa brining Me? Highchair from Mocka, Solvej swing from nature baby, YmamaY Admiralty bay dress.. Big Bay Bib.... Leopard leggings & a Jolly Jumper from baby on the move. 2. Why did you choose to be with my Daddy? Because of h is caring, loving and nurturing nature. He doesn't judge people and takes them for face value. He has smoking blue eyes, which you inherited. 3. In what ways do you think I'm like you? And not like you? You are like me with your olive smooth skin & calm relaxed demeanor; you also enjoy having animals around the house. You’re not quite as good as sleeping as mummy but you do enjoy the ferry ride across Foveaux Strait when mummy is feeling sick. Lucky daddy is a fisherman and he holds onto you.

Every issue we will star a little girl and a little boy as our Mini Me Star …

MINI ME

star!

This Months Mini Me Star is BROOKLYN, he is 10months amd loves learning to walk, baths & Daddy coming home! 1. What’s the one thing that you are most passionate about to do with parenting? Being positive and happy around you at all times. At the moment Daddy and I are trying to teach you that you shouldn't bite, but you can give lots of kisses. 2. Why did you choose to be with my Daddy? He is an amazing, thoughtful and caring man. Your Daddy always puts others first and will help anyone at the drop of a hat. That's what I love about him. 3. In what ways do you think I'm like you? And not like you? You are definitely starting to look more like me, and when you p ull funny faces you look like I did when I did the same faces as a baby. But then you have your crazy, cheeky side as well. I think that's more from your Daddy, but he may beg to differ!

…if you would ♥ to see your little one here make sure you like our facebook page, each month there will be a chance to enter

little frock shop!

At “Little Frock Shop” we are passionate about all things FUN!! We believe in the whimsical, the magical and letting imaginations soar! And we believe this should be evident in your child’s everyday life from the clothing they wear to the games they play. Our goal is to provide cute, interesting, fun and affordable clothing for boys and girls.

www.frock.co.nz

D.I.Y Animal Masks CLICK HERE

Bee My Baby is an online Baby & Big Kids Store. We guarantee that you will find something gorgeous, something unique and something exciting! Go to www.beemybaby.co.nz for everything from everyday essential items to simply fun and exquisite gifts. All orders over $100 are shipped for free (within New Zealand). A free gift wrapping service is available. Join us on Facebook to hear about our latest products, giveaways and special offers.

Urban Baby Bonnets

Rainbow Creations Playhouses

My Little Seat Portable High Chair

Lily & George Comforters

Balloon Balls

SPUDS – Utensils and Dinnerware

Gorgeous Interiors From

Sissy + Marley LUSH Stylists

images by www.sissyandmarley.com

wonderful walls!

Wallpapering a room is a gorgeous way to personalise a space and add a whole load of character to your room without a huge amount of effort or accessories.

At LUSH we love wallpaper and these days there are just so many different styles to choose from – whether you want gorgeous images, subtle scapes or star and stripes the world is your oyster!

If you are looking for something that captures your little one’s personality and is a bit different from the norm contact www.lushstylists.co.nz for details on how they can help you find that something special.

www.lushstylists.co.nz

we love!

My pick of looks this month are from www.sissyandmarley.com -‐ I just love the subtle tones paired with the fun vibrant accessories, just too cute for words!!

D.I.Y Tassel Garland CLICK HERE

For Mummy & Daddy From

Jo Frances Lindi Kingi Jack & Lucy Sheera Gordon Outie Rock Your Bump Molton Brown Desk Drawer Chelsea Winter

editors pick! As you know I am nearing the birth of my first baby and one of the things I am most fearful of is breastfeeding – well, it is not actually the breastfeeding itself, rather all the HOW’s -‐ how often, how to, how to hold him, and how to express!

One of the tips I read was to have a hair tie on my wrist so I knew which breast I had last fed with – I loved this idea, especially with the onset of baby brain but thought I could go one better…below is my idea of the perfect breastfeeding bracelet!

These start from just $22.50 and are elasticated so are easy to pull on and off.

Lindi Kingi is a range of beaded jewellery handmade in New Zealand from globally sourced beads and charms. It's a collection born of a love for the eclectic, the exotic and the precious.

www.lindikingi.co.nz

Auckland Photography Professional photographers specialising in gorgeous baby portraits, natural photographic portraits of children of all ages, and photography that captures and celebrates people and their relationships. For caring, personalised family photographic portrait services by New Zealand’s leading portrait photographers, call us or email us directly to discuss your photography needs.

Way back when in the days before the internet, before emails, before texts. The days when we used to write letters on proper paper. Do you recall growing up and having a bunch of penpals? Do you recall the enjoyment you got from writing and receiving letters? Jack & Lucy was inspired by childhood memories and the hope that children today could experience the fun of penning a letter or a note to friends and family, and the joy of receiving a handwritten response in the mailbox. As families are increasingly becoming spread out across the globe, taking the time to send a little handwritten letter, note or card will mean the world. It's so much more personal than an email, and something to be cherished. Take a look at the current range of Jack & Lucy stationery including sets of writing paper, notecards or postcards as well as greeting cards. Envelopes and stickers are included with most sets because we all know stickers are crucial to fun letter writing. And just in time for Christmas are wonderful gift sets, which include notepads and small boxes of coloured pencils too. Every order is beautifully packaged so you'll feel like you're opening a gift every time you receive a parcel from Jack & Lucy. l

www.jackandlucy.co.nz

outie! Outie: For all of life’s little bumps (Your Maternity Wear and Mess Anywhere Specialist) Outie is a funky NZ maternity clothing label providing fun solutions to ‘problems’ presented by parenthood. From bump to baby to well beyond! Helping bumps beat the frump grumps since 2012. Outie’s boutique maternity t-‐shirts are the best around due to the unique belly-‐bump designs and super soft, stretchy cotton/modal blended fabric. Versatile and suitable for breastfeeding too, Outie’s scoop neck Belly Bump tees make the ultimate gift for all mamas to be. Easy Peasy/ Lessy Messy Outie up-‐cycles billboard advertising to create environmentally smart innovative and durable Splat Mat products. These are the ultimate green baby product to reduce the stresses of baby messes one small splat at a time. Outie will make your parenting journey more fun right from the beginning.

www.outie.co.nz

If you’ve been thinking of getting professional photos of your child to treasure forever, you want the end result to be a true reflection their essence and playfulness.

Having 2 wee ones of my own I understand it doesn’t always go to plan so therefore I have a very relaxed and patience approach. It’s all about capturing those sweet or cheeky moments.

I approach each shoot with the same enthusiasm and always look forward to creating something special you can treasure forever.

I also enjoy applying the same enthusiasm to photographing your child’s birthday party. After putting in all that effort why not capture the fun and enjoyment of the day.

"Rock Your Bump, your online Maternity store bringing you stylish, high quality maternity and nursing wear to take you from bump to baby and beyond. We are proud to be NZ stockists of Mothers En Vogue, Ripe Maternity, Angel Maternity, Eve of Eden, Undercover Mama, Pea in a Pod and exclusive stockists of Ninth Moon Maternity and Nursing Wear. Rock Your Bump – Staying stylish through Maternity, Breastfeeding and Beyond."

www.rockyourbump.co.nz

www.rockyourbump.co.nz Â

big booklovers!

In 1945, Claire Randall is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon in Scotland. Innocently she walks through a stone circle in the Highlands, and finds herself in a violent skirmish taking place in 1743. Suddenly she is a Sassenach, an outlander, in a country torn by war and by clan feuds. A wartime nurse, Claire can deal with the bloody wounds that face her. But it is harder to deal with the knowledge that she is in Jacobite Scotland and the carnage of Culloden is looming.

Bonkers: My Life in Laughs by Jennifer Saunders -‐ the hilarious, touching life story of the iconic comedian and national treasure Jennifer Saunders' comic creations have brought joy to millions. From Comic Strip to Comic Relief, from Bolly-‐swilling Edina in Ab Fab to her takes on Madonna or Mamma Mia, her characters are household names. But it's Jennifer herself who has a place in all our hearts. This is her funny, moving and frankly bonkers memoir, filled with laughter, friends and occasional heartache -‐ but never misery.

An epic saga of love, betrayal, ambition and redemption in 1920s Australia. The four Latimer sisters are famous throughout New South Wales for their beauty, wit and ambition. They have always been close; always happy. They thought this would never change.But then they left home to train as nurses, swapping the feather beds of their father's townhouse for the spartan bunks of nursing accomodation. And now, as the Depression casts its shadow across Australia, they must confront their own secret desires.

colouring your hair while your pregnant!

The Myths and a Safer Option

There are enough changes going on in your body during pregnancy that can make you feel self-‐ conscious and unattractive most of which we can’t control -‐ regrowth does not need to be one of them! Although there is no evidence that suggests dying your hair while you are pregnant can cause problems to your unborn child, some women prefer to avoid the process altogether. As the owner of a hairsalon and a mother, I of course know a fair bit on this subject, and would like to clear up a few myths about hair colour and introduce you to Chi Organic Hair Colour…. Many hair colours still contain Ammonia, this is an irritant that can damage hair and gives off the strong smell, with your new found smelling powers of a superhero, may make you feel unwell, especially during your first trimester so always be in a well ventilated area when applying. Chi Organic Professional Hair Colours are the preferred choice for expectant and breast feeding mothers. They are derived from organic plant, mineral and herb extracts, Metallic Free, Ammonia Free and PPD free (the chemical ingredient responsible for most allergic reactions). Infused with non-‐ synthetic Organic Silk and Aloe Vera, give 100% grey coverage, brilliant shine and come in a full colour range. Chances are this colour is gentler than the body lotion you use. The colour solution is not absorbed through the hair shaft, but your skin, so such methods as highlighting with foils/meche/cap have zero contact with the scalp if you are still concerned. We have been working with Chi for 8 years now and have every confidence in their ability and their safety, afterall, as hairdressers we want to be working with as little chemical contact as possible too. Look and feel great during your pregnancy with Chi Organics at Molton Brown For more info see our website www.moltonbrownmilford.co.nz or call us 09 4895074

SHOR T

of time?

L to R – Mid Length Chino Short $59 from Max (www.maxshop.com), Florence Crystal Dial Watch from W itchery $199.90 (www.witchery.com.au), Bird Print Shorts from Country Road $109 (www.countryroad.co.nz), Carrie Cargo Short from Forever New $49.99 (www.forevernew.com.au), Fossil Stella Rose Watch from Charlton Jewellers $249 (www.charltonjewellers.co.nz) I’m A live Short $79.95 from Decjuba (www.decjuba.com.au) Prices listed may change without notice and m ay vary from time of publishing.

BUDGET

his & hers!

L to R – ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FROM THE WAREHOUSE, Garage Shirt Dress $35, Trilby Hat $10.50, Owl Tee $6.00, Dallas Match Short $39, Trilby Hat $10.50, Benny Shirt $39. Prices listed may change without notice and may vary from time of publishing.

DIY facemask on a budget

teaspoons

teaspoons DIRECTIONS: Mix 4 teaspoons of lemon juice with 3 tablespoons of honey, Apply to your face in an outward motion, Leave on for about 15 minutes, Rinse with warm water

D.I.Y Citronella Candles CLICK HERE

for the busy mum! Walk, Don’t Run Giving birth and being pregnant puts a lot of pressure on us, particularly on our bones, joints and the muscles in the hips and lower back.

FACT: Did you know walking is the only exercise that uses almost every one of the body’s 206 bones?

FACT: Did you know that walking slowly burns around 240 calories an hour, whilst walking briskly burns around 380 calories per hour.

TIP: Walk, Don’t Run – by walking once a day you will really

be doing yourself a favour, not only will you boost your levels of vitamin D and get some fresh air – you will also be loosing weight…get rid of that baby belly by just taking a stroll!

FACT: By pushing your pram or wearing your little one you will add weight to your walk, meaning you will burn even more calories! It really is a WIN WIN!!

for the busy mum! Home Beautiful So now you are a Mum you more often than not find yourself at home more…don’t despair as domestic duties can actually pack quite a workout punch.

FACT: Sleeping burns around 19 calories per half hour (good

right?), watching TV is marginally better – you burn 23 more calories per half hour than when you’re asleep! BUT EVEN BETTER: Cooking -‐ burns between 70 and 90 calories per half Washing the dishes dishes -‐ burns between 80 – 100 calories Vacuuming -‐ burns around 90-‐100 calories per half hour Bathing and feeding -‐ burns between 105 and 130 calories per half hour Supermarket shopping -‐ burns between 105 and 130 calories per hour Playing with your baby -‐ burns between 120 – 150 calories per half hour Doing things online -‐ burns around 50-‐65 calories per half hour

TIP: Play your favourite music while you’re doing your household chores, this will help you move faster, build up a rhythm and have fun!

desk drawer! Your baby is unique and Desk Drawer’s illustration services for custom illustrations will be picture-‐perfect for your baby’s nursery. Dreamy drawings to order by Katrina Ward will brighten any wall – and you can even have custom fabrics designed too! Frame-‐able prints, children’s book illustrations, drawings from photos, wall decals, wrapping paper, custom fabrics, baby blankets, tea towels and more…It is all possible with Desk Drawer. Custom copy writing services also available – Katrina is looking forward to hearing from you!

www.facebook.com/Deskdrawer

fact files on christmas! Reindeer are usually 4-5 ft tall not including their antlers. Their antlers are 3ft tall!

Christmas trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.

Christmas trees were first decorated with foods such as apples, nuts and dates

All the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gif ts

Do you know why we say the 12 Days of Christmas? It is believed that it took the 3 kings 12 days to find baby Jesus

D.I.Y Christmas Wreath CLICK HERE

recipes

from

festive bowl! Sometimes the madness of getting everything organised for the Christmas meal is so all-‐consuming, it’s nice to have a dessert you can literally just pull out of the freezer and serve – then sit back with a bubbly and enjoy it. This wonderful festive looking arrangement can be prepared a few days in advance, so on the day it’s just like plonking a tub of ice cream on the table – but a thousand times more impressive! You can be as creative as you like with the decorations in the ice bowl. I’ve used what I think is quite Christmassy, and goes well with the ginger ice cream – however if you were serving a berry ice cream, for example, perhaps some lovely pink flowers and berries could be nice. The thicker you make the bowl, the longer it will take to freeze – but it also means it’ll last longer on the table! Be sure to pop a plate underneath the ice bowl when you serve it to protect your tablecloth. A very merry Christmas to you all! x For directions on how to make Chelsea’s FESTIVE ICE BOWL WITH GINGER TUILES please click anywhere on this page – this will take you directly to the recipe.

chicken caesar salad!

I’ve had some dreadful Caesar salads in my time and I’m sure you have too – overly creamy and rich, heavily salted, made with poor-‐quality ingredients and manufactured dressing. Done well, however, this salad can be a real delight. I think the magic really lies in the dressing – it makes such a big difference using a homemade one.

The leftover dressing can keep for up to a week in the fridge and is wonderful in sammies or wraps, with potato salad or as a dip. If you’re pressed for time, you could just use a cooked chook and just scatter chunks of it on the salad. Serves 4. For directions on how to make Chelsea’s CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD please click anywhere on this page – this will take you directly to the recipe.

fish burger! Beer battered fish is a delicious treat, perfect in a homemade burger – and it’s so simple! The key to getting these burgers perfect is not overcooking the fish – I always do a small test piece first. If the oil is too hot, the batter will brown quickly but won’t cook though – raw batter is not a good thing! Not hot enough and you’ll get a soggier piece of fish. Fresh fish like this deserves to be treated with respect, so I recommended avoiding the usual processed white burger buns and choosing lovely fresh bakery buns instead (like ciabatta buns or wholegrain rolls) – it makes a huge difference. Filet ’o’ fish, eat your heart out! Serves 4-‐5

For directions on how to make Chelsea’s BEER BATTERED FISH BURGERS WITH GARLIC HERB MAYO please click anywhere on this page – this will take you directly to the recipe.

cheesecake! Dairy & gluten free cheesecake with chocolate and strawberries! I’m happy to say that this is as scrumptious as good as any cheesecake I’ve made. It’s rich (which is why the creamy layer isn’t too thick) so don’t go nuts on the slice sizes. Oh go on then, if you must. The base is lovely buttery cashews, coconut and almond, bound with coconut oil (available in most supermarkets now). The filling uses good old Whittaker’s chocolate, coconut cream and dairy-‐free cream cheese – which is available at most health food shops (I got mine from Harvest Wholefoods). There are a few brands out there – so just use whatever you can find, because the chocolate will take care of the taste! Note: You can leave the egg white out if you are egg-‐intolerant – it’s just there to make the filling lighter. If you’re OK with dairy, you can just use normal cream cheese, and replace the coconut cream with 1 cup cream, whipped. For a sugar-‐free option, use sugar-‐free chocolate and hold on the icing sugar.

WIN ME

win me!

L to R – SUPPORI Baby Sling from superCUTE, Oh Grow Up from Kathy Fray, Sipper Bottle from Little & Loved, Dribble Bib from Pickles Kids, Bunny Night Light from The Heirloom, Party Pieces from Pop Roc Parties, Milestone Stickers from Rock My Bump, Bracelet from Lindi Kingi. Camellia Dress from Mooce

how to enter! Who doesn’t love winning things?? We do – so in each issue with the support of some of our fabulous advertisers we will have some amazing giveaways that you have the chance to win. All you need to do to enter is like the Mini Me Magazine facebook page and comment under the image of the item you would like to win (each item will be featured in an individual post) and then like the page of the company who is giving away the product -‐ too easy!!

To find the Mini Me Magazine facebook page just click on the facebook icon below.

Best of luck with your entry! Terms & Conditions 1. Information on how to enter and prizes forms part of these Conditions of Entry. Entry into any promotion (Promotion) is deemed to be acceptance of these Conditions of Entry. 2. Promotion commences at 10:00:00 NZST on 01 December 2013 and entries close at 23:59:59 NZDT on 15 February 2013 (Promotion Period). Entry is only open to NZ residents. Employees (and their immediate families) of the Promoter, or agencies or companies associated with the conduct of this Promotion, are ineligible to enter 3. For a chance to win, entrants must: a. Like the Mini Me Magazine Facebook page b. Make a comment under the post of the item they would like to win c. Like the facebook page of the company who are offering the giveaway 4. Consumers are eligible to enter once per day for the duration of the promotion. 5. The value of the prize is accurate at the date of commencement of the Promotion. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any variation in the value of the prize after that date. The prize cannot be transferred, exchanged or redeemed for cash. The Promoter retains the right to substitute the prize with a prize of equal or greater value