Peekaboo Magazine September SYDNEY

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spring glow THINGS THAT GO ‘BUMP’: OUR SPECIAL GUIDE

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contents sept 2011 07

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Welcome Features The mother of all A Balinese princess, mother of three, successful business owner and celebrated DJ with a hot sporty husband. You want to dislike Lindy Klim because she has it all - but you can’t because she’s too damn nice!

Stick to it Stickers have brought a whole new world of fun to this entrepreneurial Gold Coast version of The Brady Bunch Make dad’s day No more socks and jocks. Here are Babyology’s ideas to help you out this Father’s Day

ompetitions C Win a tropical family getaway to Fiji, a Mooce clothing pack or some anti-ageing love from luxe skincare brand Skin Nutrition

Fashion

pregnancy with these stellar maternity pieces

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44 Yummy mummy Bask in the glow of your 51 Green sleeves Little Bossy Boots is bringing

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affordable organic clothing to your baby Le tween for he Tweens are sorted with this fab new, on-trend online shopping destination Steal their style Jessica Alba and daughter Honor

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Cover: Peekaboo’s own stunning graphic artist Kirsten Powell enjoyed frocking up for our Yummy Mummy cover shoot in this exquisite dress from Sweet Lilly Maternity (www.sweetlillymaternity. com.au), stylist Bianca Shugg, photography by Naomi V Photography (www.naomivphotography. com.au). The Peekaboo team wishes KJ all the best for an easy, breezy birth. We can’t wait to meet the bump! See our full ‘Bump’ edition fashion spread on pages 44-48.

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September theme: Bump Homeward bound Babybliss’s advice on taking baby home for the first time and bub s early sleep patterns Weigh up the benefits So, baby’s finally here. N w it’s time to shed those pregnancy kilos ...and all your favourite regulars Hot Noteworthy Parks Map Calendar

60 Peekaboo Magazine’s Privacy Notice (1) This notice describes our privacy policy. (2) By reading our publication you are accepting the practices described in this privacy policy. (3) We acknowledge that your privacy is very important to you and that you have a right to control your personal information. (4) We know that you care how information about you is used and shared and we appreciate your trust that we will do so carefully and sensibly. (5) The information we learn from customers helps us personalise and continually improve our publication. (6) We receive and store any information you give us. (7) We use the information that you provide for such purposes as responding to your requests, improving our publication, and communicating with you. (8) We will not collect any personal information about you except when you knowingly provide it. (9) We acknowledge that providing personal information is an act of trust and we take this seriously. (10) Under no circumstances will your personal information be used for any other purpose than intended. (11) The owners of this publication will retain and protect the information provided by you (but may be legally required to disclose it in some circumstances such as if ordered by a court to do so). (12) It is impossible to guarantee the protection of your personal data absolutely. (13) Your data may be exposed due to loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure. The owner of this publication will not use the information for on-selling to list brokers. Competition Terms and Conditions: (1) By entering the competition you are acknowledging that you accept these competition terms and conditions. (2) By entering the competition you acknowledge that there is one prize per competition and that the winner of the competition will be notified by Peekaboo Magazine that they have won. (3) The prize/s are not redeemable for cash or otherwise transferable. (4) The decisions of Peekaboo Magazine in relation to any aspect of the competition shall and will be final and binding upon every entrant who enters into the competition. (5) Each person may only enter each competition once and must only enter the competition on their own account. (6) The promoter of the competition is Jumpin Publishing Pty Ltd trading as Peekaboo Magazine. (7) Peekaboo Magazine accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to prizes in transit. (8) Peekaboo Magazine makes no representation or warranty as to the quality or suitability of the prizes. (9) To the extent permitted by law Peekaboo Magazine is not liable for any loss suffered or sustained to any person or property by reason of any act or omission, including deliberate or negligent acts or omissions, by Peekaboo Magazine or its agents in connection with the supply of any prize to the prize winner. (10) In the event of that any prize item is unavailable, Peekaboo Magazine reserves the right to substitute a prize item of equal or greater value.

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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welcome :) “I’VE LEARNED THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO LIVE ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, BUT ALL THE HAPPINESS AND GROWTH OCCURS WHILE YOU’RE CLIMBING IT.” - ANONYMOUS

bump!

What was your most memorable food craving?

I am not sure I knew what I was getting myself into when I fell pregnant with my first daughter but I can guarantee that today I am I happier and a more grounded person for having had children. It is interesting that for thousands of years, women have been having babies and yet no book, TV show or even my mother’s own words could have prepared me for the amazing journey. Pregnancy for some is an amazing experience, but for me it is a train wreck of vomiting, then heartburn, and then a little more vomiting. Not my idea of fun! By the end however, the result is so amazing that somehow we have this incredible urge to do it all again!

After the birth comes the 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, rest-ofyour-life responsibility which, for me with my first born, was incredibly overwhelming. But again we push through! Then comes the pressure of breastfeeding - some find it easy and some have trouble. For those who have trouble, a huge cloud of pressure moves in instantly questioning your ability to be a mum. On top of this, sleep deprivation is now moving in and not to mention this is the BIGGEST life changing experience most women will ever come across. Yet we manage. And we go back for more! So today, I salute our Peekaboo mothers on a job well done.

That brings me to our special ‘Bump’ issue celebrating all things pregnancy and newborns. I really enjoyed putting this issue together for you and I feel it is our best magazine yet. Feminine, with a touch of class and a fair whack of information. But I’m always biased! Enjoy the read and make sure you let us know what you liked and what you would like to see featured in future editions.

Creative Director & Publisher Bianca Shugg Mandarins all the way Editor Belinda Glindemann I couldn’t get enough potatoes in me belinda@peekaboomagazine.com.au Graphic design Vanessa Russell Tuna mornay vanessa@peekaboomagazine.com.au Photographer Naomi Vasington | Naomi V Photography Cheese and raw onion sandwiches www.noamivphotography.com.au Fashion stylist/writer Jennifer Arndt | Style Milk Mushroom soup and mussels www.stylemilk.com.au | info@stylemilk.com.au Travel writer Carla Adams carla@peekaboomagazine.com.au Production assistant Kirsten Powell Icecream! In a cone, in a bowl, on a spoon, anywhere. And McDonald’s hot cakes artwork@peekaboomagazine.com.au Sales account manager Karrie Harte Beetroot and Kraft cheese slices karrie@peekaboomagazine.com.au Area manager (Melbourne) Jana Wilkes Curry tuna rice jana@peekaboomagazine.com.au

I have been recently diagnosed with Celiac disease and would love to say a huge thank you to Food for Health for sending me a huge range of their yummy products. Much appreciated. www.foodforhealth.com.au

Special thanks...

Wendy Somerville, Michael Somerville, Jenna Somerville, Cambell Shugg, Claudia and Heidi Shugg xx Creative Director & Publisher

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Please suggest you local business, childcare centre, cafe and/or boutique to bianca@peekaboomagazine.com.au Peekaboo Magazine www.peekaboomagazine.com.au Peekaboo Magazine is printed in Brisbane, Australia, by Fergies. Distribution via Fastways and Australia Post Peekaboo Magazine is owned by Jumpin Publishing Pty Ltd

06 PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

belle public relations

competitions competitions

peekaboo competitions

ion ! w liday is h

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0] $250 ed at [valu I E: FIJ COD

outrigger on the lagoon, fiji Fijians are renowned for their friendliness and love of children and what better way to relax and to give your kids the experience of a lifetime than to let them immerse themselves in Fijian culture under the watchful and experienced eye of an Outrigger Meimei. In the heart of the Coral Coast on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, Outrigger on the Lagoon is a luxury, fi e-star resort stretching along the shores of a reef-fringed lagoon. The Meimei Nanny Service provides holidaying parents with affordable childcare, eight hours a day, from as little as AUD$4/hour. The service is provided as one-on-one care for children aged six months to two years, and two children per nanny for children three and over. The service is designed to be fun for kids and also educational. Children participate in traditional Fijian art and crafts, fishing and basic language lessons While the kids are getting looked after, stop by the Bebe Spa for an indulgent face, body or massage treatment, some of which are uniquely Fijian such as the Bobo massage in which the masseuse uses her arms, elbows, forearms and warm coconut oil to relieve muscle tension. Outrigger on the Lagoon is a fi e-minute drive from Sigatoka’s riverside shopping centre, the main township on the coast and midway between Nadi and Suva. Guest activities include golfin , hiking, fishin , horse riding, white water rafting, kayaking, snorkeling and traditional Fijian shows and ceremonies. www.outriggerfiji.com Outrigger on the Lagoon is giving one lucky reader a fi e-night holiday for two adults and two children, return airport transfers, two one-hour Bebe Spa treatments and breakfast daily. Please note, flights are not included in this prize. Total prize value is AUD$2500.

skin nutrition

mooce

Skin Nutrition is a ground-breaking US-based natural skincare range focussed on preventative ageing, ageing reversal and overall skin wellness. Its success can be put down to the unique ‘bioactive’ ingredients used (ones that effectively interact with living tissue because they can be easily recognised by their similar molecular makeup). Think blueberry, acai berry, goji berry, raspberry, cranberry and strawberry extracts as well as super-hybrid Vitamin C, high-purity Omega-3 and other botanical actives. Clinical trials of Skin Nutrition’s Cell-CPR showed, after two weeks, improved skin elasticity, a 31 per cent average decrease in the appearance of fine lines and a 27 per cent average increase in skin hydration. Who doesn’t need that kind of help?

Mooce (pronounced Moo-tzy) is a vibrant and stylish kids clothing label. Bold colours and unique details are stand out features of this brand, along with an uncompromising value to deliver comfortable, high quality garments.

Skin Nutrition is giving away one Anti-wrinkle and Anti-ageing pack including Cleansing Lotion, Facial Resurfacing Exfoliator, Dynamic Wrinkle Reducer, Moisturiser, Eye Reconditioning Serum and the highly coveted, Cell-CPR. Give your skin the nutrition it deserves. www.skinnutrition.com.au

ikin e! w ncar is s

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0] t $61 ed a [valu IN K S : E COD

Distinctive graphic designs provide appeal to each collection and these, along with the prints and some fabrics, are exclusive to Mooce. Suitable for ages two to six years, each collection cleverly consists of pieces that can be mixed and matched to create many different looks.

Mooce’s Summer 2011 ‘LOVE’ collection is a reflection and celebration of all things love and features cute squirrels, delightful acorns and all pieces are made of 100 per cent cotton.

You can win one of three Mooce clothing packs each containing one Clockwork t-shirt and one Sky skirt, valued at $85. www.mooce.com.au

win

the se c loth [tot al v es! alu CO e$ 25 DE :M

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how to win Simply email competition@peekaboomagazine.com.au, quoting the prize’s codeword in the subject line of your email. Please ensure you provide your full name, address and contact phone numbers in the body of the email. You can only enter each competition once. Duplicates will be deleted. Your contact details will remain the property of Peekaboo for future newsletters and other correspondence. If you don’t want us to keep your details on file, please include the word “PRIVATE” in your entry. Please refer to page 5 for full competition terms and conditions. Competitions close, and entries will be drawn, October 30, 2011. The Outrigger on the Lagoon prize is valid until August 31, 2012 and is subject to availability, excluding December 24, 2011 to January 15, 2012 and also June 30-July 15, 2012.

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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n o use i great t room a kid’s ting, for sea e, put is other w eet up f r you Mum! PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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feature

The Mother of All A BALINESE PRINCESS, A MODEL, A DJ, A MOTHER OF THREE, SKINCARE COMPANY ENTREPRENEUR, WIFE OF AN ELITE OLYMPIC SPORTSMAN. IS THERE ANYTHING LINDY KLIM CAN’T DO? STORY BELINDA GLINDEMANN PHOTO NAOMI VASINGTON OF WWW.NAOMIVPHOTOGRAPHY.COM.AU

Lindy Klim leads one very charmed life. Sure, many of you would know her as a Balinese princess and a high-profil model who married Olympic swimmer-extraordinaire Michael Klim, but she’s also a mum of three and is juggling work commitments and school runs around breastfeeds. So, really, she’s just like the rest of us – except she’s uber-glamorous.

On the day Peekaboo caught up with Lindy, 33, she was at home with baby daughter Frankie who had just marked fi e weeks of life. Frankie is the Klims’ third child – a sister for Stella, 5, and Rocco, 3.

“Stella is a rough-and-tumble girl,” Lindy says. “She’s very busy and always trying to move Frankie from here to there.

Rocco is a mummy’s boy, very sensitive, very charismatic. He loves ‘Crankie’ as he calls her, and gives her lots of soft gentle kisses.”

Lindy says although she makes “the worst pregnant lady”, Frankie’s birth was super quick and easy.

“The birth was very fast. By the time our obstetrician arrived, she was already here and all he had to do was deliver the placenta.

“Michael and I are always busy because I hate just sitting down and doing nothing. It can be craziness here some days – we are super busy – but that’s how we like it. That’s how we roll,” she says. “Frankie’s a great baby. So cruisey. She settles quickly at night and I’m used to the lack of sleep anyway.

“She’s only fi e weeks old so I’m demand feeding her and it can be quite problematic when I’m trying to get Stella off to school in the mornings and Frankie wakes up and needs a feed.

You run late on those days, but it doesn’t matter.”

True to many other mothers’ findings, Lindy says the third child is a breeze.

“With the first, you are in shock and having to let go of that life before. When the second comes along you are generally still tired from the first one. By number three, you know exactly what you are doing.

“When Stella was born, I was such a stress-head. I worried about everything. I wonder now what that did to her as a baby.”

While Stella and Rocco have inherited their mother’s stunning Balinese features, with dark hair and olive skin, Lindy says baby Frankie swings more to her father’s family’s Polish side.

“Rocco was easy as well but Stella’s birth was a bit harder. I had been home for two weeks after her birth and had to go back in to hospital for an operation as I had an infection. I was in hospital for two weeks and then home, but the infection came back and I had to be readmitted.”

“She’s completely different to the others. She has blonde hair and blue eyes and pale skin. Sometimes I look at her while she’s feeding and I think ‘whose child have I got here?!’. She’s definitely a Klim – olish through and through.”

According to Lindy, Frankie has slipped into the Klim clan’s chaos very easily, so far.

When Lindy’s not in mummy mode and answering her front door to the courier delivery man with her maternity bra clips

open and her cup (almost) runneth over - true story - she’s running a successful business producing baby skincare products called Milk Baby, alongside Michael’s own specialist men’s skincare range, Milk by Michael Klim. The pair operate the businesses out of their new, Balinese-inspired Melbourne home.

Lindy says the idea for Michael’s range came about after he was continuously sprung in the bathroom using (or, “wasting” as Lindy laughs) her expensive lotions and potions.

“We talked about the fact that swimming would wrap up for him one day and that he needed to look elsewhere. I saw a hole in the market for men’s skincare products so we tried it.”

Milk by Michael Klim was launched exclusively in Myer in 2008 and soon after, the Milk Baby range was born. Lindy was struggling to find the right skincare for then-baby Stella and was resorting to using pure olive oil over other less natural options.

Growing up in Tasmania, a state she describes as “pure”, Lindy knew that that was the location to find the right manufacturer of her proposed organic skincare range. The first Milk Baby product to be rolled out was the Snotty Grotty Room Spray.

“Stella was getting colds all the time and I wasn’t comfortable using a vapouriser in her room with that combination of water and electricity,” Lindy says.

“I thought it would be good to find something that worked like Vicks on the chest, that you could spray around the room.”

> Continued on page 14

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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feature > Continued from page 13

With its blend of certified organic rosehip oil and eucalyptus oil, Snotty Grotty ensures kids get a good night’s sleep by clearing their nasal passages. Lindy says the rest of the Milk Baby product range grew out of necessity. She simply looked at what products Stella needed, and also by that time baby Rocco, and added them to the list.

The Milk Baby range currently includes Bath Time Wash, Nighty Night and Stinky Winky room sprays, Sleepy Bubs Massage Oil and the Spotty Tots Miracle Cream that Rocco and his eczema became the main ‘guinea pig’ for.

Although the current Milk Baby skincare range is bubbling along nicely in stores around the world, Lindy is not content to kick back and relax just yet. A Milk Essentials range is headed to a store near you in the coming months and there are also two Milk by Lindy Klim apparel ranges on the horizon – one for bubs and the other for mums.

The unisex baby range will be pitched at newborns to 24 months and will consist of luxurious Indian organic cotton pieces, as well as plain cotton items, in signature neutral

14 PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

tones. For mums, Lindy’s range will include a maternity and leisurewear focus with mix-and-match leggings, long cardis and tops, for example, again in organic cotton and neutral tones.

“It’s all the kinds of things I lived in while I was pregnant,” she explains. “Mums want to be comfortable and they also want to be able to go down to the park or out to the shops and look nice and feel good. It’s that kind of clothing.”

With all these exciting new projects going on in Lindy’s life, as well as a newborn baby, two other young kids and a husband to take care of, it’s a wonder she doesn’t burn out? Lindy says it’s important for everyone to aim for some kind of balance in their life and she does this by making a point of enjoying regular ‘date nights’ with Michael, which is generally dinner out after the kids are asleep, as well as time for herself at the gym or out walking or catching up with friends for coffee.

And on top of the Balinese princess thing, the model thing, the business entrepreneur thing, the hot-sporty-husband thing and the mother-of-three-amazing-kids thing, you shouldn’t be surprised to note that Lindy Klim is also an open, friendly, candid and down-to-earth person. Lindy Klim, when we grow up, we want to be just like you.

hey mrs DJ Did you know Lindy Klim also dabbles in DJing?

And by ‘dabble’ we mean she took three lessons from a professional DJ friend and was so good, she was booked to perform her first gig in front of 1500 people.

“I have a massive interest in music. Michael and I go out a lot and have loads of friends in the music industry,” Lindy says. “I thought the DJing thing would just be a good party trick for when we have people come around to our home. Michael’s all about pushing your boundaries so he’s been a big encouragement for me to pursue this.”

While Lindy first thought DJing would earn her some pocket money to buy shoes, the pastime has, in fact, paid for all the furnishings in her new home – is there anything this woman can’t do?

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sleep easy baby HERE’S AN IDEA THAT’LL HELP MAKE THOSE EARLY MONTHS WITH YOUR BRAND NEW BUNDLE OF JOY A LITTLE EASIER, BY PROVIDING AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS AT YOUR PLACE

Once in a while a new product comes along that makes you stop and wonder what life was like before. It slipped so seamlessly into your daily life in a way that you had never imagined, by simply creating a safe and protective environment that allowed your baby to remain by your side throughout the day.

Stokke Bounce ‘n’ Sleep is a new concept that’s set to improve the ways in which parents interact with their babies. No more rushing frantically trying to get things done around the house before bub realises you’ve left the room.

No more endless trips, back and forth to the nursery to check

that your baby is still comfortable and sleeping soundly.

Stokke Bounce ‘n’ Sleep is an innovative multi-function bouncer and daybed combination that adapts to the changing needs of your family throughout the day.

The bouncer, with its gentle rocking movement, is the perfect place to chat, giggle and play. When you need to leave the room, simply pick up the bouncer using the carry handles and off you go on your next adventure.

kind to offer a flat, ergonomic resting position. You might not be happy with your little one sleeping so close to the floor?

That’s where Stokke Bounce ‘n’ Sleep Daybed comes in.

Simply place the reclined bouncer into the daybed and your baby can softly dream whilst you get on with your daily tasks.

The Stokke bouncer is $299 and the daybed is $249 and they will be available for sale in Australia in October. www.exquira.com.au

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• Compliments the Stokke Bounce ‘n’ Sleep Bouncer by transforming it into a multifunctional daybed • Suitable from birth to around six months • Can be used with bouncer in active 30-degree position and flat resting position • Soft, natural rocking motion encourages restful sleep • Easy to transport around your home

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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™ the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional. Vitamin supplement should not replace a balanced diet.

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bump

BUMP PREGNANCY IS THE MOST AMAZING TIME OF YOUR LIFE. YOUR BODY CHANGES IN WAYS THAT YOU’D NEVER IMAGINE AND THEN THERE’S THAT AMAZING LITTLE PACKAGE AT THE END OF IT ALL. THERE’S SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT IN THE NEXT NINE MONTHS, AND BEYOND. READ ON FOR OUR TIPS ON ALL THINGS ‘BUMP’

LOST WORLD SPA BABY MOON Ask any parent and they will tell you that bringing a child into the world dramatically changes the husband-wife relationship dynamic.

One way many expectant parents celebrate their impending arrival and recharge before the craziness of those first ew months, is by taking a romantic ‘babymoon’ holiday.

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and Lost World Spa is one exclusive property looking after soon-tobe parents. Upon arrival at O’Reilly’s, which is set among the mountains in World Heritagelisted Lamington National Park, Queensland, babymooners receive a sweet or savoury ‘cravings’ plate. They then relax and surrender the senses while enjoying a unique full body soy candle wax massage in the beautiful couple’s suite. Mum-to-be is massaged on the special pregnancy bed to ensure complete comfort.

A memento candle is included in all packages.

A one-hour treatment for mum is $186 and couples treatment costs $315. Add on an Rosey Posey Cotton Sundress by Lilly B Australia $139.99 Available at: www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au, Floral Headpiece with peony rose, delphinium and peppercorns by Quite Inviting, www.quiteinviting.com.au, photogrpahy by Naomi V Photography, www.naamivphotography.com.au

accommodation package and you will be all set for bub’s arrival. www.oreillys.com.au

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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bump

ELASTIC BELLY BALM Myrtle & Tuppence Elastic Belly Balm The Elastic Belly Balm is a wonderful combination of organic oils sourced from the South Pacific. Melanesians h ve been using Tamanu oil and coconut oil on their skin for centuries and the beneficial effects are well noted. Elastic Belly Balm has been reviewed on many parenting websites and has been proven a winner for many mums-to-be. Nourishing on the skin and non-greasy, this oil is definitely worth a try, $24.50.

BUMP

www.naturalbabycare.com.au

tip #1

MAMBINO ORGANICS

’s ur baby Cut yo while they s ail p fingernding or aslee e le e g f g e r u a the str to save tential for p and o aster dis

The Just Hatched Baby Kit includes Tippy Toes ultra gentle baby oil for the most delicate newborn skin, Little Bottoms baby ointment specially formulated for sensitive skin, and a natural sea sponge that inhibits the growth of bacteria unlike washcloths.

There’s also Newborn Oat and Milky Bath made with natural colloidal oatmeal which relieves dry, itchy and irritated skin, and Mommy and Baby Calming Pure Organic Essential Oil aromatherapy blend of chamomile and bulgarian lavender, $73.95. www.toffeeappletummies.com.au

SILVER CROSS SURF PRAM Silver Cross’s Surf is unique; it’s all about the ride.

The air suspension system and superior padding allows you and your baby the freedom to go wherever you want.

Surf is suitable from birth as they have included the unique babynest because they know your baby needs maximum comfort. They have also included lots of accessories because they know we care about value for money. Silver Cross created Surf because they understand, $999. www.silvercross.com.au

OOGY BABY’S BREAST MATE Breast Mate is an all-in-one, colour changing room thermometer, nightlight, alarm clock and feeding device. It records and displays all feeding information including when the last feed was, what side baby finished feeding on, what breast side to start on next feed, how long baby fed for and how many feeds have taken place in a 24-hour period. All information then downloads to your computer to show you baby’s feeding patterns, $79.95. www.breastmate.com.au

ORIGINAL BELLY BANDIT The one-of-a-kind Original Belly Bandit was created especially for post-pregnancy. Simple and effective, the Belly Bandit helps mums lose inches faster, reduces discomfort, minimises stretch marks, provides back support while breastfeeding, assists the healing process, improves posture and gives an instant slimmer appearance. There is also a Bamboo Belly Bandit ($108). Bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic.

Bamboo has proven capabilities to inhibit the growth of bacterium and fungi that cause odour and infection and is water absorbent (translating into excellent moisture wicking properties that pull moisture away from the skin) so it’s the best choice for C-section mums, $74.95 www.toffeeappletummies.com.au

20 PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

BUMP

Homeward Bound THAT JOYFUL TRIP HOME FROM HOSPITAL CAN QUICKLY BECOME THE RIDE FROM HELL IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE YOUR HOMEWORK ON NEWBORN SLEEP REQUIREMENTS STORY JO RYAN OF WWW.BABYBLISS.COM.AU

Work-at-home mums, SMEs, start-ups:

If your business is small but your ambition is...

BIG Get people talking about you!

Bringing a new baby home can be incredibly daunting and overwhelming. It seems like so much fun those first few days in the maternity ward with all that help and attention from doting midwives. The cold reality is that once the front door closes behind you and bub, it can be a very hard road.

There is hope though - if you take the time to understand a few things about newborn babies, those first few weeks should be a little easier. The one thing that I think all new parents should be told before they leave the hospital is how long a newborn baby should be awake for. It is very easy to assume that a young baby will just sleep when they are tired but unfortunately that often doesn’t happen.

As a young baby gets overtired it becomes more and more difficult to get to sleep so it is important to assist your baby to sleep when they are ready.

If you put your baby down before they become overtired, then they will usually go off to sleep without too much fuss. Once they have become overtired they will be much more difficult to get to sleep and might cry quite vigorously.

In this case, it is important to hold them in your arms, take them into a darkened, quiet room and pat them until they have gone to sleep. Then you can put them into their cot.

Some other things to know about newborn babies • N otice your baby’s tired signs such as yawning, grimacing, crying, jerky movements and staring

• Y our baby should sleep until they are due to be fed again and for a newborn baby that can be anywhere from two to four hours since the beginning of their last feed • F eeding a new baby can take up to an hour so be aware that there isn’t much time for anything else when they are small other than feeding, burping and settling off to sleep again • B e patient. Sometimes a new baby can take a while to settle off to sleep but you need to go with it a bit. It is often when you try to rush the feed or the settling that you will find you are then resettling more that you would usually • Y oung babies need to be wrapped or swaddled to sleep. I prefer to wrap with their arms down away from their face • I t is absolutely okay to put a young baby down to sleep awake. Don’t always feel that your baby needs to be asleep when you put them to bed. A lot of the time you will need to assist them to sleep but if they are fed, burped and sleepy then always give them the chance the put themselves to sleep before you intervene ❤ Jo Ryan of Babybliss will be a guest speaker at The Baby & Toddler Show in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Visit www.babyandtoddlershow.com. au for your local show dates and location

Belle PR’s DIY ‘One-page Wonder’ media kit will get your good news business story into the media (and get you noticed) the affordable, simple, professional way.

We also love larger-scale business campaigns and event PR too Mention this ad in Sept for a discount on your media kit

www.bellepr.com www.facebook.com/we.are.bellepr

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SOPHIE THE GIRAFFE Always a firm celebri y favorite, Sophie is also a French icon celebrating her 50th birthday in 2011 and remains the only 100 per cent natural rubber teether. To date, more than 50 million Sophies have been sold worldwide, $34.95. www.moosaidthecow.com

FLEXI BATH

THE WEAN MACHINE

A full-size baby bath which folds flat after use.

Once folded it can be stored just about anywhere.

The Flexi Bath is very useful for travelling and can be used later as anything from a toy box to a laundry basket, $59.95. For your nearest stockist, visit

The Wean Machine makes fresh, nutritious food for your baby in seconds. Simply fill, squee e and feed. It’s fully self contained, incorporating the bowl and spoon, so it’s great for when bub is out and about. BPA free and dishwasher safe, $39.95.

www.arealcoolworld.com.au

www.theweanmachine.com.au

BINK LINK DUMMY CHAIN Bink Link dummy chains protect baby’s dummy from germs when dropped. They have been thoroughly tested to Australian toy standards so parents can be assured that their baby’s dummy is fashionably (and safely) attached. Bink Links feature a strong cord to prevent breakage, lead-free paint and a metal clip, strong safety knots to prevent beads from coming loose and colorfast cords to prevent color from running, $19. www.minihippo.bigcartel.com

22 PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

MAMAS & PAPAS DREAM SWING

BETEAS ORGANIC INFUSIONS

This swing has lots of great features making it so easy for baby to be comfy, entertained and kept happy for hours.

From multi-speed settings to different reclining positions, and hours of in-built music to be played, the Mamas & Papas cradles are easily transportable, machine washable and great value for money, $229.95.

These delicious, all organic herbal blends are designed to support women through their journey to motherhood and beyond. Use the BLISS blend for pregnancy and use NOURISH if you are a breastfeeding mum. Taster tins (about eight serves) are $6, larger tins (about 40 serves) are $12.

Refill pou hes are also available.

www.childsmart.com.au

www.beteasorganic.com.au

Weigh up the Benefits

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THERE COMES A TIME IN MANY MUMS’ LIVES WHEN THEY DECIDE TO EMBARK ON A POST-PREGNANCY WEIGHT LOSS CAMPAIGN. WHETHER IT’S WEEKS AFTER BABY’S STORY RHIAN ALLEN OF WWW.LOSEBABYWEIGHT.COM.AU

Deciding when to lose your post-pregnancy weight is a personal decision and it is important to feel 100 per cent emotionally and physically ready before starting any weight loss plan.

It is also crucial to ensure that you embark on a healthy and safe weight loss plan as there are many diet pills and potions for sale which claim to have you lose 5kg a week, but that is not a healthy rate of weight loss for you or your baby if you are breastfeeding.

To lose this amount of weight each week is, firstly, unsustainable for more than a week or two and, secondly, losing this amount so quickly will mean there is a fast release of toxins that are stored in the fat which are then released into your blood stream. For you, this means feeling very sick and if you are breastfeeding, these toxins will pass through the milk to your baby.

What is the best way to lose post-baby weight?

It has been proven time and time again that people who treat weight loss as a health goal, rather than vanity, are more successful and lose their weight over the long term so it is important to look at your weight loss campaign as a healthy lifestyle and eating campaign which weight loss will be a byproduct of.

For many people it is easy to get into the habit of not eating enough good food and not doing enough exercise.

Where weight loss is concerned if you are not providing the cells in your body with adequate supplies of vitamins and minerals then it simply cannot function properly which leads to a sluggish immune system, poor digestion, a slow metabolism and an inability to lose excess weight.

Healthy weight loss is around 500g-1kg a week and by following a healthy eating plan which cuts out processed foods this is attainable. Changing your lifestyle will not only ensure that you lose your weight but it will also mean you have more energy, better skin, hair and nails and it will also set a good example to your family about how to live a healthy life so they can grow up learning about the benefits of living a healthy life.

Get healthy and lose weight • Cut all junk food and processed food out of your life and clean out your cupboards.

• Only eat wholegrain carbohydrates like wholegrain bread, pasta and rice - do not eat the white varieties.

• Eat 7-8 serves a day of fruit and vegetables and if possible buy organic.

• Increase your consumption of fibre and lean protein.

Fibre will aid your digestion and help you feel fuller for longer and lean protein will help to build lean muscle which in turn boosts your metabolism. rink 1.5L - 2L of water each day so that your • D body can flush out all the toxins and so that your digestion can work to its best level which will aid weight loss. If you are at home, make the water interesting by making a big jug and adding sliced lemon and limes. If you are out and about carry a bottle of water so it is easy to take swigs during the day. earn to exercise more and go for a • L 30-minute daily walk.

TETRA SNUGGLE BED The Tetra Snuggle Bed can sit directly in a cot often replacing the need for a bassinet or cradle. It can easily be moved between rooms or locations while maintaining bub’s familiar sleeping environment.

Filled with natural breathable Tea Tree flakes and encased in organic cotton, it is chemical-free, sweatshop free and hand-made in Australia. A genuinely natural and ethical choice in the nursery, from $174.95. www.tetrateatree.com.au

inite w 9 inv! f o 1 s pack

s lope ] enve ites/ at $15.95 v in [12 ed , valu each VITE E: IN COD

INVITE ME The newest one-stop online shop for boutique parties is at www.inviteme.com.au. Inviteme stocks beautifully designed, unique products for your next celebration – everything from stunning stationery and gifts to paper straws, cake stands and balloons. No need to trawl the net or pound the pavement anymore.

With the click of a mouse it’s all delivered to your door.

The site is the brainchild of two mums, driven by the desire to provide the kind of quality and originality they demanded for their own kids – but could never find. Inviteme’s range of individually tailored invitations is hand finished to ensure the highest quality. With more than 250 original designs to choose from, it doesn’t stop at invitations – get your matching gifts tags, stickers and thank-you cards to complete that perfect party.

To enter, email competition@peekaboomagazine. com.au and quote the code in the subject line.

Include your name, address and phone number in the body of the email. Competitions close and prizes drawn on October 30, 2011. See page 5 for full T&Cs.

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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BONNIBUNS CLOTH NAPPIES The simplest way to find a cloth nap y that works for you is to stop researching and start using. You will have a much better idea of what fits, what kind of closure and fabrics you prefer, how much absorbency your baby requires, how quickly things dry or how versatile or convenient your want your nappies to be. Be prepared to invest in a few different things before you find something that gets ticks in all the boxes. Try Bonnibuns nappies (custom order, pictured left), $28. www.nestnappies.com.au

BOON GRASS DRYING RACK A modern and innovative take on the traditional drying rack, the Boon Grass Drying Rack is PVA and BPA free and it’s dishwasher safe. Functional and quirky it quite easily fits numerous bottles, teats and pacifiers in a compact space on your sink, $39.95.

SLEEPI SPACES Made from natural maise these gorgeous moses baskets are a practical and popular alternative to a bassinet. Pictured, is the martini green basket and rocker, $320 www.sleepispaces.com.au

www.milkandcoco.com.au

REVERSIBLE BIB

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MOKOPUNA MERINO Born in New Zealand’s pristine southern alps, 100 per cent pure Mokopuna Merino creates the softest and finest clothing range for newborn to 12 years with maternity pieces coming soon. The range consists of newborn essentials and easy mix and match layering styles in our own classic and contemporary colour palette including unisex and distinctive stripes. Ideal for everyday and gift.

The long wrap suit, pictured, retails for $54.95. www.mokopuna.com

24 PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

This floral bib in the Bébé by Minihaha famous ‘Cindy’ print keeps your little princess looking scrumptious while she’s doing the dirty work. It’s reversible back offers double the protection and double the cuteness with a beautiful print in lilac and white. Made up of combed cotton and jersey, $12. www.minihaha.com.au

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Bag of Tricks CHIRON ‘YOUR BABY’S CREAM’ Created by a scientist using a potent combination of organic oils and herbs, Chiron ‘Your Baby’s Cream’ is a moisturiser, barrier cream and wound healer. www.chironorganic.com.au

YOU ARE PREGNANT, SO NOW COMES THE TASK OF BUYING EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR BABY. THE FUN BEGINS WITH THE DECISION ON WHICH BABY BAG IS RIGHT FOR YOU STORY LUCIE TRINCO OF WWW.ILTUTTO.COM.AU

Cot? Check. Pram? Check. Baby clothes? Check. The list goes on and on but with all this spending, it’s nice to know that there is an essential item that you need that is all for you – the baby bag.

With so much choice now available, there are bags and brands to suit every taste and budget.

However, make sure you choose one you love as you will be carrying it everyday. We asked owner/designer Lucie Trinco from luxe baby bag label Il Tutto for her tips on shopping for the perfect baby bag:

STYLE

MUM’S SECRET SOOTHE & REPAIR Soothe & Repair Moisturising Cream is designed to be used topto-toe on all the family. It is very versatile and it can also be used on pregnant bellies, sunburn, sensitive skin and even eczema. Available in 50ml and 125ml. www.mumssecret.com.au

Are you casual and relaxed, looking for a hands-free option or are you wanting something that looks like your regular handbag only with the functionality you are looking for in a baby bag? There are many styles available from canvas, microfibre and PVC to genuine leather so it’s never been easier to find one to suit ou.

FUNCTIONALITY

Ask yourself, is it comfortable to carry? Can it attach to your stroller?

Is it big enough? Does it have all the pockets you require? Does it come with all the necessary accessories such as change mat? Is the top opening big enough to easily get everything in and out?

QUALITY Your baby bag needs to be built to last so you should be looking for quality when choosing your bag. Are the handles strong enough to withhold weight? Is the base panel sturdy? Is it easy to clean? Does it come with a warranty? Can you get replacement parts?

GLASS BABY BOTTLES Lifefactory’s Glass Baby Bottles are completely free of potentially harmful chemicals found in many plastic bottles. The bottles are made from toughened glass, a material that is safe and hard wearing. They can be boiled, steamed, microwaved or cleaned in a dishwasher without deteriorating. There is no need to replace bottles regularly (unlike plastic bottles) and no fear of chemical leaching. Available in two sizes 4oz (118ml) and 9oz (250ml). One hundred per cent BPA, phthalate, PVC and polycarbonate free. www.sweetcreations.com.au PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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SUNNY MUMMY STACEY SULLAPHEN KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT BEING NOTEWORTHY – WE THINK SHE IS HERSELF. CHECK OUT SOME OF HER FAVE THINGS RIGHT NOW STORY STACEY SULLAPHEN OF WWW.SUNNYMUMMY.COM.AU

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, a mother are buying to life as pram we t Adjusting ha w en t wom , enly abou for many we talk op fact that, e ng th t ou ch life- angi oken ab gnificant little is sp e most si th is by ba having a perience. will ever ex ping event they well as co change, as e lif or , aj by can to this m a new ba Adjusting mands of e de ay -d pe to ex rienc daylikely to with the ly if en more ar om ul ic w rt e pa m time, make so y at this or anxiet st. pa depression e th in it perienced they’ve ex mothers Australian t in seven e on ki ea ng ou nd ession, sp With arou natal depr u but st yo po lp g in he only experienc e can not experienc ence she the confid about your d fin r he ot m r he help anot it too. talk about needs to ond Blue, run by Bey campaign, ut O sion and es ak pr de The Spe areness of aw e ot om formation aims to pr provide in igma and st just ce du an port t to anxiety, re lp. It’s im to get he l play al re n he ca w t e abou ing this, w and by do families speak up omen and or pp ting w su in le ro a vital icult time ugh a diff going thro om.au speakup.c www.just

let the festival begin Having started my own motherhood journey in Sydney, I am amazed that I have never attended the Sydney Children’s Festival - Australia’s largest artsbased festival for kids.

With performances, workshops and loads of free activities to explore, the hardest decision will be which workshop or show you would like to see, on top of the huge range of free activities you can get stuck in to.

I love that the foundation of this festival is participation. Too often as parents, we take kids to do things and watch, rather than participate with them and share the experience. The festival is programmed to ensure the whole family can learn and explore activities together.

est, prepare to r heard of Pinter If you have neve r, in the world.

BEST time waste u find the worst, ing something yo e you spend do Actually no, tim will fall in u yo re su am d and I love is not waste ny happy hours est and spend ma ter Pin th wi e lov together! g, Pinterest is a are not yet pinnin s For those who llect all the thing , a place to co or virtual pinboard es zin ga ma of ut the expense you love witho oks can s and scrapbo file ing ep ke r, the clutte ou ab t houses a place to dream bring. For me, it’s th a slippery wi e (such as the on I will never own the crafty re mi ad ), irs d of sta dip in it, instea thes I will clo ver tackle and the projects I will ne that you is rt pa st wever, the be never own. Ho er by oth people boards created w can check out pin ed, discover ne way to be inspir which is a fun share your o wh ers oth ect with things and conn rests’. nte ‘pi or , sts ere int st an invite from u need to reque To get started, yo eady ‘pinning’. alr is a friend who the site or from scrap bookinging ning, is the new I would say pin my boards by cheaper. Follow and a whole lot . nnymummy searching for Su t.com www.pinteres

There are events for all kids up to the age of 12 and for the first time, the festival will expand across fi e Sydney and greater-Sydney venues, to ensure that no Sydney child misses out on the action. The festival will burst into the city on September 26 and will run for two fun-filled weeks, featuring six theatre productions, 50 workshops and 60 free events. www.sydneychildrensfestival.com

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

27

noteworthy

take note

eat

sideways deli cafe The moment you approach this modern inner-west café you can feel its warm and homely vibe.

Sun-drenched, bright and tucked away in a residential area, it’s always buzzing with locals enjoying its fine cuisine and friendly atmosphere.

The owners, sisters Jacqueline and Danielle, have been running the family business since 2007 and they have got it so right. There are loads of kiddie 37 Constitution Rd, comforts including highchairs, a toybox, Dulwich Hill pencils and paper, friendly staff, outdoor www.sidewaysdelicafe.com.au seating and a tasty menu.

A popular one on the menu for the kids is the fried egg with baked beans and toasted soldiers for $8.50. For the bigger ‘kids’, they serve Di Lorenzo coffee and don’t miss out on their extremely generous ‘Fiveways’ breakfast with bacon, chipotles, mushrooms, homemade baked beans and eggs.

For lunch, there’s the homemade dips or sirloin steak sandwich with beetroot sauce. There are so many delicious options to choose from.

To top it all off, after your snack or meal, you can always grab a takeaway coffee, wander across the road and watch the kids play in Johnson Park (check out page 33 for more about that park) or JF Laxton Reserve, Dulwich Hill.

The café is open seven days, 8am-5pm. Breakfast costs $8.90-$14.50 and lunch is $8.90-$15.50.

STORY KATHRINE D’COSTA AND EILEEN STAPLETON OF WWW.KIDSIZELIVING.COM.AU

moo gourmet burgers eat

We’ve found a super comfy, family-friendly burger restaurant in the heart of the eclectic Newtown precinct that’s great for either a lively lunch with a group, or a quiet stop-in with your newborn. Moo Gourmet Burgers is a colourful, fun and ultra cool casual dining experience well decked out for families with both young and older kids. Highchairs and plenty of space for prams make things easy for new mums, while highlights for the kids include the 3m-long chalkboard in the outside eating space along with the pens, pencils and colouring-in sheets that, when finished 232 King St, Newtown can be proudly displayed on the ‘gallery wall’.

www.moogourmetburgers.com.au

The kids are well looked after with a ‘Little Cow’ menu where under 12s can choose a meal, drink and dessert for $9.95 and they even have family friendly Sundays where you can buy one kid’s meal and get one free.

They also donate a portion of their ‘Little Cow Meals’ to the Starlight Foundation – food with a conscience, we like that. And they haven’t forgotten the grown ups either. They don’t serve coffee here, but their burgers, milkshakes and smoothies certainly make up for it (and if you need a caffeine hit, there are plenty of child-friendly cafes in the area). We sampled the lentil burger and the chorizo/haloumi burger and both were divine.

Moo Gourmet Burgers is open from 11am till late. Lunch and dinner meals range from $10.50 to $29. Other Moo Gourmet Burgers locations include Bondi Beach and Coogee.

STORY KATHRINE D’COSTA AND EILEEN STAPLETON OF WWW.KIDSIZELIVING.COM.AU

place

billy lou kids shoes A baby’s foot is made up of soft cartilage and will take up to 18 years to develop and harden into the 26 bones and the 19 muscles that make up a fully formed adult foot. Billy Lou Kids Shoes owner Jen O’Brien says many adult foot and posture problems have their origins in childhood and can be traced back to poor quality and incorrectly fitted shoes.

“Your child only gets one pair of feet, so it is important that they have the best possible start and ongoing support for the long journey ahead,” she says. With two children of her own, Jen understands the importance of good, fitting shoes as well as the importance of good service and making the shopping experience a fun one. She says her Leichhardt store “isn’t your run of the mill kids shoe shop”.

2/137 Norton St, Leichhardt (entrance via Short St)

www.billylou.com.au

“We carry a lot of brands that you don’t find in all the other kids shoe shops and we really aim to support Australian brands such as Scruffy Dog, Skeanie, Old Soles, Walnut, Red Bootie, Sudo, EMU.” There’s also Converse, Keds, Clarks, Ecco, New Balance and Bobux.

The shop fit out will appeal to parents and children alike. There’s a great kids’ play area with TV, a bathroom with change facilities and, of course, all those fabulous shoes fitted by trained fitters. And that’s the other big advantage of shopping at Billy Lou – knowing you’ll get a professional fit by staff who are in the know. Jen says there are several things to consider when selecting shoes for your child.

Shoes should be fitted not only for length but also width, depth and heel fit as well.

“Your child’s feet can grow up to a size in length in their first month of walking as they begin to test out muscles they didn’t know they had. Allow them time to build their confidence before having their first shoes fitted,” she says. “We suggest that first shoes be fitted when the child has been walking unaided for approximately six to eight weeks. If your child needs some kind of protection before this time we carry a large range of pre-walkers.

“Unfortunately your child’s first shoes aren’t going to fit for very long - if there is one thing you can’t stop children doing, it’s growing. On average a child will outgrow their first pair in about three months” Make sure you take advantage of the store’s loyalty program, and check out the range for teens and adults too.

ripe maternity

The recently released Spring Summer 2012 collection can be found in store now and highlights the label’s extensive category range and key fashion items. Customers will have no problem shopping for their new maternity wardrobes here as the collection includes basic items, denim, weekend, evening, corporate, nursing, intimates and swimwear. The Ripe Maternity Myer Sydney City label clearly understands their customer and what she needs from fashion during that most 436 George St, Sydney amazing of times in a woman’s life - pregnancy.

“Pregnant women of today have very dynamic and full lives. It is integral that the collection reflects this and matches the needs of their lifestyle,” says the label’s designer, Lisa Balakas.

Piccadilly Centre 210 Pitt St, Sydney

www.ripematernity.com

“Each season we assess our core basic items to ensure they are on trend in shape, fabrication and tone. Fashion and highlight pieces are inspired by global fashion trends and observing the lifestyle and needs of pregnant women.”

The brand has come along way since its humbling beginnings 15 years ago when Lisa and her friend Kate Beaconsfield founded the company, both then aged 27.

After having three children, Lisa was frustrated by the lack of fashionable maternity wear that was available to pregnant women and thought it was time things changed. She teamed up with Kate, they pooled resources and have never looked back.

place

Australia’s largest maternity fashion brand, Ripe Maternity, has recently opened two new stores, both based in Sydney’s city centre. The two stores are the first in New South Wales for the brand and add to the portfolio of fi e other retail locations in Melbourne, as well as their online presence. In April this year, the brand entered into Myer with their first concession store and then opened the Pitt Street store in June. Both have received a strong, welcoming response from a large customer base.

park

johnson park CONSTITUTION RD, DULWICH HILL

A lovely, large shady park that has a few playgrounds, an open grassed area and a basketball court, Johnson Park is a great spot to stop in for a play and a run around with the kids. It’s also nice and close to the popular bustling Sideways Deli Cafe that serves great food and coffee.

An undercover barbecue area, two sheltered picnic sites with tables, and an amenities block also help make this outdoor recreational area perfect for kids’ parties or large gatherings.

STORY KATHRINE D’COSTA AND EILEEN STAPLETON OF WWW.KIDSIZELIVING.COM.AU

Johnson Park has two separate playground areas. One is shaded with some interesting climbing, spinning, swinging, bouncing and sliding equipment perfect for both toddlers and bigger kids, as well as a fantastic skateboard, cycle, and scooter path.

There’s also a cute novelty frog sculpture to enjoy and a big old rocket-ship that is no longer for play but adds a little bit of unique ambience to the park.

On Fridays, between 9.30am and 12.30pm, Marrickville Council’s ‘Magic Yellow Bus’ visits the park. It is a mobile playgroup centre where Under 5s can enjoy craft, storytime, toys and plenty of other activities. It’s all free, and is a great way to meet other parents and children.

For babies, teens & in betweens.

read

bilingual is better PARLEZ-VOUS FRANCAIS? SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH? LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE MAY, IN FACT, KICKSTART YOUR YOUNG CHILD’S ACADEMIC ABILITY STORY BELINDA GLINDEMANN

Did you know, one in four Australians speak a language other than English? And did you know bilingual children are found to be more attentive and have an advantage at school over their monolingual peers?

Glottogon director Karen Mennie says children who learn a second language grow up to be easily adaptable, lateral-thinking adults who, studies have shown, don’t as quickly succumb to age-related dementia. And she would know. Karen has done much research into the benefits of bilingualism before the launch of her multicultural online children’s bookstore earlier this year at www.glottogon.com. Glottogon stocks children’s books, DVDs and CDs in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian and Indian (Hindi, Urdu, Gujurati and Punjabi) with Dutch and French titles coming soon. English children’s story and picture books are also available.

“We want each child to be equal in their differences and we want them to have fun while reading so our books are not what you would term ‘text books’,” Karen says. “We aim to import books from independent publishers who primarily publish in the language of their own country so our books are written by native speakers – not translated. We do also have some translated popular children’s character books featuring Dora and Miffy, as all kids love them and if they enjoy the story they will learn more.”

Glottogon will also publish its own range of board books and flash cards in Greek, English and Italian, illustrated by children’s books artist Doriana Berkovic. The name ‘Glottogon’ is derived from the word ‘glottogony’ which means “the origin of language”.The Glottogon website features brand character Glottie who speaks and reads all languages and, along with his friends Uber and Surfie, the trio explores the world and send an animated postcard each month which are posted on the Glottogon YouTube channel.

The website also has a children’s download area with colouringin pages and monthly colouring-in competitions. Although Glottogon is a new business for Karen, she comes armed with a wealth of retail knowledge from her previous corporate roles with international fashion labels. The Glottogon ‘story’ itself was born out of an eye-opening moment in Scottish-migrant Karen’s own kitchen last year between her Greek mother-in-law and Karen’s then nine-month-old daughter.

“I handed my mother-in-law an everyday English children’s book to read to my daughter and found out she wasn’t comfortable to read it,” Karen says. “So I went looking for a Greek book that they could read together and couldn’t find one.” And the rest, they say, is history.

She is pursuing a vision for the betterment of children’s education through the Indigenous Literacy Project. Some 20 per cent of Glottogon’s September revenue will be donated to the cause.

Karen’s vision for Glottogon is not strictly about sales and profits.

www.glottogon.com

“We genuinely want to make a difference – not just talk about it.”

QPAC PRESENTS

must do

D fan id you s of k incl The now, Zet ude Ca Gruffa a Jo ther lo n i Row es and ne ling JK

mouse hunt YELLOW EYES, HORNS, BIG SHARP TEETH. THE GRUFFALO IS A SCARY LOOKING CHARACTER BUT AUDIENCES ALL OVER LOVE THE BIG, BROWN GUY

The magical musical adaption of the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Gruffalo will take over the Sydney Opera House later this month.

Presented as part of the Kids at the House program during the upcoming school holidays, the show follows the story of a mouse who took a stroll through the deep, dark wood.

Whether their favourite food is roasted fox, owl ice cream, scrambled snake or Gruffalo crumble, audiences eat up this delectable tale about the adventures of a clever little mouse in a forest full of predators. Join Mouse on an adventurous journey through the deep, dark wood in this big scary monster of a show. Mouse can scare hungry animals away with tall stories of the terrifying Gruffalo, but what happens when she comes face to face with the very creature she imagined?

The Gruffalo show is recommended for children aged three and up. It will show in the Playhouse from September 24 to October 8. The show runs for 50 minutes. All tickets are $27.

Julia Donaldson is one of today’s most popular writers. Her bestselling titles with Axel Scheffler include The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child and Room on the Broom. Although she is best-known for her picture books, Julia also writes longer novels, plays and songs. She lives in Glasgow and spends a lot of time on stage performing her brilliant sell-out singalong shows. Axel Scheffler’s books have been translated into over thirty languages. He divides his time between the United Kingdom and Germany. www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Designer moses baskets and more... www.bebelicious.com.au info@bebelicious.com.au

calendar noteworthy

ket To mar . we go.. , o high h o h h g i h

high high ho, ho. with mum .. m and c hic y we go ks

local events calendar

october

september

02

Dora, Dora, Dora the Explorer! Get up close and personal with Dora at Parade Theatres, Kensington, today. www.nida.edu.au

It’s Father’s Day today.

Make sure you spoil your old mate rotten!

08

Everyone’s favourite book character, The Gruffalo is on at the Sydney Opera House from Sept 24 until today. Phone 9250 7777.

09

Sydney Opera House presents a Flamenco Fiesta for 2-5 year olds from today until Sept 21.

Bookings on 9250 7777.

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Postman Pat celebrates 30 years of postal delivery adventure today. Have a cake to celebrate with Pat, Jess and the Greendale guys.

If you were planning a girls’ night out this month, stay in instead and donate big to the Cancer Council. www. girlsnightin.com.au

Ahoy there me hearties!

Best ever day to indulge your inner pirate. It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day, raising money for kids with cancer.

Spend An Hour With Maggie Hamilton, author of ‘What’s Happening to our Girls’, at CarriageWorks today.

North Sydney Leagues Club will be the place to have a cup of rosy tea with Dorothy the Dinosaur today. www.norths.com.au

Kids will love The Chaos Fairy on show at the Zenith Theatre, Chatswood, from today until Oct 7. www.zenith theatre.com.au

Get yourself along to the Sydney Children’s Festival. The fun kicks off today and lasts until Oct 8. www.sydney childrensfestival.com

Learn to make clay pinch pots or create your own monster at a Claymazing workshop for 7-12 year olds. www. carriageworks.com.au

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Show off your drawing and writing skills by making your own ‘Zine’ at CarriageWorks today. www.carriageworks. com.au

november

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They’re off and racing!

If you didn’t get to Flemington this year for Melbourne Cup, there’s heaps on in town. Make sure you have a flu ter.

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Crikey! It’s Steve Irwin Day. Don your best khaki and make a donation to that Qld family institution, Australia Zoo.

Spend A Little Day Out with much-loved Play School presenter Justine Clarke. www. sydneyoperahouse.com

This week is National Recycling Week. Make sure you set a good example for your kids and teach them how to reduce, reuse, recycle.

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The Babies Proms Orchestra and a special Christmas chamber choir will perform from today until December 11 at the Opera House.

The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk, a new play about how hard it is to be brave, is on at the Opera House. www. sydneyoperahouse.com

Mosman Art Gallery/ Community Centre hosts a Children’s Clothes and Toy Swap at 6.30pm today.

Phone 9978 4000.

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If hubby is growing a mo this month, take heart. Movember’s almost over. Sharpen the Gilette and get the shaving cream ready.

It’s that creepy, scary, fun-filled night of the year: Halloween! Get your trick or treat on in your street with the kids. They love it!

Remembrance Day. Try to make it to one of your local services and remember those you gave their lives for our freedom.

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...it’s almost Peekaboo time again! Look out for a copy at your local stockist in the next week. December edition is ‘Celebrate’.

sept markets Handmade, Handcrafted Creations Market September 11: 1st Terrigal Scout Hall, Terrigal www.handmadecreationsmarket.vpweb.com.au Billycart Markets September 17: Lakes Parish Hall, Narrabeen, 9am-1pm. www.billycartmarkets.com Baby & Kids Market September 11: Boys only market, Five Dock Leisure Centre, corner of Queens Rd and William St, Five Dock, 9am-noon. www.babykidsmarket.com.au

october markets Tony Tots Baby Market October 28: Ingleburn Community Hall, Ingleburn, 9am-noon Shining Stars Baby and Children’s Market October 30: Campbelltown Civic Centre, Campbelltown, 9.30am-12.30pm Baby & Kids Market October 9: Illawarra Sports Stadium, Berkeley October 16: Penrith Sports Stadium, Cambridge Park October 23: St Ignatius College, Lane Cove October 30: Mum’s Big Day Out, Rosehill Race Course www.babykidsmarket.com.au

nov markets Pitter Patter Markets November 6: Camden Civic Centre, Camden, 9am-1pm. www.pitterpattermarkets.com.au Handmade Craft Market November 20: Erina High School Hall, Erina, 10am-2pm Baby & Kids Market November 6: Newcastle Basketball Stadium, Broadmeadow November 13: Sutherland Basketball Stadium November 20: Five Dock Leisure Centre Novemver 27: Bernie Mullane Sports Complex, Kellyville. www.babykidsmarket.com.au

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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LET YOUR BABY’S FINGERS DO THE TALKING - YOU’LL BE SURPRISED BY HOW EASILY THEY PICK IT UP STORY JACKIE DURNIN OF WWW.AUSTRALIANBABYHANDS.COM

A dominant trend in childcares and homes around the country is baby sign language among non hearing-impaired children.

Baby signing aims to take the frustrations out of childrearing by helping parents to communicate with their nonverbal infants.

Significant research into the learning habits of deaf infants, and/ or parents, showed toddlers have the ability to communicate with their hands at least 6 – 12 months before they can talk.

The motor skills required for signing are developed a lot sooner than verbal communication skills.

❤ Jackie Durnin of Australian Baby Hands will be a guest speaker at The Baby & Toddler Show, Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, September 30-October 2.

Visit www.babyandtoddlershow.com.au

The most productive time to start signing with your child is between six months and 2.5 years, however some parents start from day one just to get into the habit of using baby sign language with their children.

‘Australian Baby Hands’ baby signs are uncomplicated and easy for little hands to master. These signs are AUSLAN signs, which are the same signs used by the Australian Deaf

community. The benefits associated with baby sign language are two-fold. Firstly, encouraging babies to develop motor skills early, means better co-ordination and improved cognitive skills throughout childhood. Also, when signing babies begin to talk, their vocabulary not only develops faster than non-signing children but it also has, on average, a 50-word head start. This is an excellent foundation for literacy, brain stimulation and the early proliferation of social skills.

The second major benefit belongs to the parents, who can enjoy a more communicative relationship with their child, aided by fewer tantrums and frustrations. These benefits aside, signing with your child is a fun and unique way to interact.

And it’s quite easy to teach bub. Patience is key and it needs to be a gradual process. Start with no more than fi e words and only once these have been recognised, should more be introduced. Consistency, encouragement and praise are all also key.

expert

sign of the times

expert

routine is key FINDING A GOOD ROUTINE WILL HELP YOU GET THROUGH THOSE CONFUSING, STRESSFUL AND TIRING EARLY MONTHS OF PARENTHOOD STORY TIZZIE HALL OF WWW.SAVEOURSLEEP.COM.AU

In today’s changed society we often don’t live close to our families. Many new parents have little or no real experience with babies until they are handed their own precious bundle in the labour ward. Trying to work out what this amazing new little person is telling you can be very overwhelming, especially when sleep deprivation starts to take over.

hungry, tired or bored cries because when your baby starts to cry, you will be able to look at the routine and see what is due next. If your baby is due a feed, you will start to recognise that as the hungry cry. If your baby is due to have a sleep, you will learn that is the tired cry. In the haze of those early days you may think all crying sounds the same but they do, in fact, sound different.

Leaving hospital with your new baby often brings very mixed emotions. You have probably spent your time in hospital wishing you could go home and introduce your baby to all your family and friends. But now that the day has come, you may be feeling you don’t want to take your baby out into the real world and you suddenly feel very anxious.

At first, the idea of a routine can be quite scary. Not everyone’s baby or life is the same, so sometimes routines need careful adjusting to suit your circumstances. If you find this to be your case, then try following my basic daily patterns and adjust the routines to suit.

I believe routines are very important and a big help to new parents learning to interpret their baby’s different cries, especially in those early days and weeks. When following a routine, you will begin to distinguish between your baby’s

Routines help babies to feel safe and secure. Your baby will know that his or her needs are being met and there no need to cry, resulting in a happy, contented baby and happy, confident and rela ed parents.

❤ Tizzie Hall of Save Our Sleep will be a guest speaker at The Baby & Toddler Show, Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, September 30 October 2. Visit www.babyandtoddlershow.com.au

expert

food for thought IT’S IMPORTANT TO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR NUTRITION WELL BEFORE CONCEPTION, TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS OF GOOD EATING HABITS FOR LIFE STORY GERALD QUIGLEY OF WWW.GERALDQUIGLEY.COM

Thinking about conceiving? Then think about food. During pregnancy, as the nutritional needs of a growing foetus take precedence over the mother’s, you’re going to need a bit more nutritional intake than the baby requires to have any left for yourself. The extra is required for your body to manufacture the enormous supply of necessary additional hormones.

If deficiencies arise, it’s very difficult to make them up during pregnancy. You should be ‘eating for two’ several months before conception because you’ll require a substantial stock of the nutrients that baby-building demands. Once you’ve conceived, you’ll also need a few extra calories.

The quality of your food is much more important than the quantity. You won’t need to double your intake, even when you are pregnant, because your baby is obviously smaller than you. However, you will need a few extra calories.

Your food should be packed with vitamins and minerals, be rich in fibre, protein and complex carbohydrates and low in

saturated fats, sugars, salt, tea, coffee and chemical additives.

If you eat too much junk food, there won’t be enough space for the nutritious healthy stuff. Cut out the sugar and white flour because they take up valuable space. Sugar creates other problems. The possibility of obesity in the infant is a concern, as is the connection between sugar and Candida (yeast overgrowth in the body) to which you are much more vulnerable during pregnancy.

During your pregnancy, you should continue to take supplements and eat sensibly. Zinc and iron levels should be regularly checked. Exercise, stress management and avoidance of toxins continues to be important.

You shouldn’t take any medicine for the first trimester, unless taking it is unavoidable and cleared as safe by your health practitioner. Use his or her guidance during your pregnancy, and involve other health practitioners to ensure that every aspect of your pregnancy is going smoothly.

❤ Community pharmacist and herbalist Gerald Quigley will be a guest speaker at The Baby & Toddler Show, Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, September 30-October 2.

Visit www.babyandtoddlershow.com.au

STICK

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TO IT

42 PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

WARNING. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ‘WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?’ STORIES. IT WILL AMAZE YOU AND, HOPEFULLY, IT WILL INSPIRE YOU. THAT IDEA YOU’VE BEEN SITTING ON FOR YEARS MAY BE YOUR TICKET TO THE BIG TIME. YOU’VE JUST GOT TO TAKE THE CHANCE. STORY BELINDA GLINDEMANN PHOTO NAOMI VASINGTON OF WWW.NAOMIVPHOTOGRAPHY.COM.AU

Take a Gold Coast chiropractor, his graphic artist partner and a trip to the United States. While said chiro was in the States, he chanced upon an idea that would change his family’s life forever. And it would all revolve around stickers.

The chiro is Phil Barham and his soon-to-be wife is graphic artist Monica Liebenow. Phil and Monica own and operate The Sticker Family – a range of sticker characters for your car, or wherever else – from their Burleigh Waters home and nearby warehouse.

If you’re enjoying this copy of Peekaboo from the comfort of your lounge in Queensland, you’ll know exactly what we are talking about. For those southern readers amongst us, well,

all we can say is - prepare for the onslaught. The sticker characters are simple child-like stick figures, printed in white on a clear background, ranging from golf-playing dads and pregnant mums to superhero kids, frisbee-chasing dogs, scaredy cats, horses and guinea pigs. The idea is to collect those stickers that represent each member of your family, and even your pets, and proudly display them across the back window of your vehicle. It’s a craze that has taken over South-East Queensland, where the stickers were launched, with what seems like every second car displaying the traditional row of family members. In fact, the ‘family’ moved their two-millionth sticker in Australia last month. Amazing.

With the definition of ‘family’ such a flexible and varied con-

The stickers are gaining traction in Sydney and Melbourne and The Sticker Family has even secured interest in New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, Canada, Scandanavia and the United Kingdom.

“We were driving across the Harbour Bridge when we saw our first stickers on a car in Sydney recently,” Monica says. “We tooted and waved and I’m sure the driver thought we were strange!”

Monica says the business launched in 2009. The pair took the simple concept that Phil saw in America and redeveloped it for the local market with redesigned characters featuring a distinctively Australian feel, courtesy of Monica’s talent for graphic art.

Where the American stickers had job titles and names on the characters, The Sticker Family has purposely defined its character range predominantly by hobbies, not careers. The range was initially marketed at a really grassroots level via the markets and at various local Gold Coast school fetes.

“We just wanted to get stickers on cars to get the word out,”

Monica says. The business continued along nicely but hit the big time when Autobarn/Autopro came onboard. It was the first big retail group to take interest and gave The Sticker Family instant national exposure.

“It was like a big snowball effect,” she says.

The Sticker Family now boasts 127 different stickers in around 650 retail locations including toyshops, newsagents and various gift store chains as well as online. The stickers retail for $4 for people and $2.50 for pets.

As demand increases, Phil has had to put on another chiropractor at his Stocklands Burleigh Heads clinic to free up some time for himself. Phil’s chiropractic assistant of more than 15 years now oversees the warehouse and dispatch.

Monica was self-employed pre-The Sticker Family and sold her business late last year to focus on the stickers.

“Nearly every waking hour is spent working on the business at the moment to keep up with the workload. But it was never our intention to turn this into a big business,” Monica admits.

“The appeal was in having something Phil and I could do together, after hours, and was a bit of fun. There was no way we would have foreseen it becoming our main business and going international. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, just how quickly it has grown. But what do they say? You’ve got to make hay while the sun shines.”

Phil and Monica themselves are the very essence of what makes The Sticker Family stickers so relevant. They each bring to the business/life partnership two children from their respective previous relationships. Phil has two sons Jack, 11, and

Sam, 8, while Monica has twin daughters Erin and Amber, 11.

“All the kids are very accepting of how it’s changed our lifestyle,” Monica says. “Family is our number one value and it must come first. It’s real balancing act though. I’ll often be found sending emails from the tennis clubhouse while the kids are having their lessons.

“We need to give the business our attention to, in turn, support our family financiall . We’ve been given this amazing opportunity and we’d be foolish not to give it our all right now.”

So what stickers best represent the family behind The Sticker Family? Monica says Phil is the weightlifter dad (although he has also been the barbecuing dad previously) while she is the laptop-and-phone mum. She also has the four kids represented on her car, as well as their two cats and three fish. While on the subject of her own car’s sticker display, Monica makes a mental note to remove one of the cats from the line up. Yes, apparently poor old Ollie met with an untimely end recently…

Living and breathing the stickers on a daily basis, Monica says the kids know and refer to nearly the entire range of stickers by their alpha-numeric product codes and they have even come up with a fun family guessing game around it.

So, while The Sticker Family continues to take over the world, the ‘real’ sticker family is gearing up to make the biggest commitment to their futures with Phil and Monica scheduled to elope to Hawaii next month. With all four kids in tow, of course. Now that’s what we call ‘family’. www.thestickerfamily.com.au

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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cept in modern society, you’ll see the ‘mum mobile’ family wagons with stickers stretching halfway across the back window in the traditional tallest to shortest display, and other smaller hatchbacks for example with just two stick-figure ‘DINKs’ represented. Then there are the cars featuring two men and their small dog, or two women and their cat. The humble tradie ute is not sacred either. This writer has even spotted a sporty young girl’s car with just the one sticker on it. When the usual sticker display is of six or more characters, you feel for this poor lonely sticker and her poor lonely human incarnation? Or is it, in fact, a very clever marketing campaign on the single girl’s part, you wonder?

e in b o t t n Wa ddly u C t x e the n TV ad?

Upload your “Thanks Mum” video at Cuddly.com.au and you could see it in the next Cuddly TV ad.

See Cuddly.com.au for all terms and conditions.

The promotion commences at 00.01 EDT on 22/08/2011 and closes at 17.00 EST on 16/10/2011 (“Entry Period”). For your chance to win, visit cuddly.com.au website, upload a video of your eligible child and fill in entry form online during the Entry Period. Major prize consists of opportunity to have your video appear within a Cuddly TV ad, an appearance for the winning child and their parent/guardian on cover of Australian Family magazine and in the 2012 Mother and Baby magazine calendar. Major prize winner judged on the basis of quality of vision, clarity of audio, and suitability of the child featured in the video to represent the Promoter. Minor prize consists of $200 Westfield voucher. Voucher must be redeemed by 17/10/2012. 5 minor prize winners chosen by way of a public vote conducted on the promotional website. Only one vote for a video on the promotional website is permitted per e-mail address. Entry to this competition is open to Australian residents who are the parent or legal guardian of a child aged no older than 4 years and 364 days as at 01/11/11 (“Eligible Child”). To be eligible for the major prize, entrants must purchase a Cuddly Ultra fabric softener product, and enter details online on the promotional website to include their product barcode, purchase date and store name. It is a condition of the major prize being awarded to the major prize winner that the winner provide to the Promoter their original receipt as proof of a valid purchase to enter this promotion.

fashion

Yummy Mummy THERE’S NOTHING MORE WONDERFUL THAN SEEING A WOMAN REJOICING IN THE GLOW OF HER PREGNANCY, AND WITH MATERNITY FASHION REALLY COMING OF AGE, THERE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL OPTIONS FOR SHOWING OFF THAT AMAZING BABY BUMP STYLIST BIANCA SHUGG PHOTO NAOMI V PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATION WWW.THECARRIAGEROOM.COM.AU

STOCKISTS Above left Hushh for mum Kia top in red, $129.95 www.hushhformum.com.au Above right Soon Maternity’s Sienna tank dress in Chillie, $119.95 www.soonmaternity.com

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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bump

A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years and in your heart till the day you die.

MARY MASON

STOCKISTS Above left Panama cowl neck nursing dress by Mayreau exclusively for Queen Bee, $134.95 www.queenbee.com.au Above right Divine Love off-the-shoulder cotton sundress by Lilly B Australia, $149.99 www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au Far right, main photo Sunshine Frill cotton sundress by Lilly B Australia, $139.99 www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au Far right, inset Soon Maternity’s Riviera kaftan, $89 www.soonmaternity.com

46 PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

fashion

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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fashion

“Being a mother means that your heart is no longer yours; it wanders wherever your children do“

STOCKISTS Above left Hushh for mum Ivy maxi dress, $179.95 www.hushhformum.com.au Above right Soon Maternity’s Jess gathered maxi dress, $139.95 www.soonmaternity.com All floral headpieces by Quite I viting www.quiteinviting.com.au

48 PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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Visit us in Brunswick, check out our charming story on our website, or like us on Facebook!

fashion

plus equals bliss WHATEVER YOUR SHAPE OR SIZE, SHOPPING FOR STYLISH PREGNANCY CLOTHING CAN BE HARD. PLUS-SIZED PREGNANT WOMAN CAN TAKE HEART IN THE FACT THAT SOMEONE HAS FINALLY THOUGHT OF YOU TOO

They say that necessity is the mother of design, and that was certainly the case for Nadine Newell, owner of Plus Maternity.

Nadine struggled though her pregnancy in 2008, and after an exhaustive search and many fruitless and disheartening shopping expeditions was still unable to find plus-size maternity wear for sale in Australia. She soon realised the only option was online shopping from the United States.

Once Nadine’s daughter was born, she made it her mission to ensure that no other mum to be should have to struggle with maternity wear and she set out to build a brand catering solely to mums-to-be in sizes 18 to 28. She called it Plus Maternity.

Plus Maternity’s range needed to cover the basics; jeans are a must as well as pants for the office, a fantastic selection of tops that easily make the transition from office to evening to weekend and importantly working as breastfeeding garments after baby arrives. Plus Maternity also stocks cotton pyjamas

and for Spring/Summer they have expanded further to include maternity tankinis, long line shorts, vibrant funky tops and a very popular envelope opening singlet, perfect for breastfeeding.

Sourcing beautiful locally manufactured cottons was important to create a premium product. All garments are cut to fit the mums-to-be rather than to fit the fabric so at times, Nadine says “we will be low yield from our fabric as we didn’t want the option of an overzealous cutter skimping off the sizing to try and increase the fabric yield and inturn create a garment that doesn’t fit perfectly”.

The range is completely designed, owned and marketed by a plus-size mum. By selling her clothing online, Nadine is able to control the price and make her range accessible to as many mums to be as possible. www.plusmaternity.com.au

fashion

green sleeves IT’S ONLY NATURAL TO WANT THE ABSOLUTE BEST FOR YOUR BABY AND THE BEST OPTIONS ARE, FUNNILY ENOUGH, THE NATURAL ONES STORY BELINDA GLINDEMANN

Laura Stevanz will confess to having a ‘green’ conscience but moreso, she’s a dedicated mother who found a hole in the market while searching for affordable natural products and organic clothing options for her two daughters, aged 6 and 3.

Armed with the determination to make buying natural, ecofriendly products easier and more affordable for mothers everywhere, her third baby - Little Bossy Boots - was born.

Little Bossy Boots is an online boutique stocking Laura’s very own range of children’s organic cotton clothing and bedding, alongside BPA-free feeding products, wooden toys, organic cotton soft toys, natural skincare and bath products for bub, amber teething beads, slings and other gifts.

necklines on the bodysuits and additional shoulder snap fasteners on the small tees makes slipping them over tiny wrigglers’ heads so much easier and the organic cotton itself brings extra comfort and durability to the range, compared to non-organic brands.

“I’ve always had a love for children’s clothing and, as a mother of two young girls, I was inspired to create a clothing range that embraced the innocence and fun of childhood, yet still protected my little ones from exposure to unnecessary toxins,” Laura says. “Every child deserves the right to be dressed in clothing that is healthy for them. Our children are our future – we have to take care of them.”

Another major factor Laura took into consideration when putting her clothing range together was price. Organic clothing has long been regarded as expensive and somewhat out of reach. The Little Bossy Boots price point has been kept low with thanks to Laura’s efforts in sourcing quality, affordable fabrics from India, a country leading the way in the international organic cotton industry.

“Little Bossy Boots is for the eco-conscious mum, yes, but it’s also pitched at the mainstream who appreciate good design and great-looking clothes and get the added bonus of organic cotton.” www.littlebossyboots.com

“I’m all for organics and natural products, but I’m also aware of the need for sustainability,” Laura says. “We shouldn’t be such a ‘throw-away’ generation, which is why I like, and stock, sturdy wooden toys and tin lunch boxes, for example.”

The Little Bossy Boots clothing range includes organic cotton jersey bodysuits in various styles for babies up to 12 months, unisex shorts, printed tees and other ‘Girlie stuff’ like super-comfy t-shirt dresses for ages 1-4 years.

As well as the benefits of organic cotton, the other stand-out feature of the Little Bossy Boots label is the distinctive Danishinspired print. Bold, repetitive elephant and heart patterns will ensure your mini-fashionista stands out in a crowd and more patterns are comig to the store very soon.

Laura called on her own motherhood experiences when designing the Little Bossy Boots clothing range. Envelope

Why choose organic clothing?

• Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that are totally safe for the environment, such as natural fertilizers • Organic cotton farms are free of toxic, persistent pesticides which are used on non-organic cotton farms • With some 25 per cent of the world’s insecticides and 10 per cent of the world’s pesticides dedicated to the production of non-organic cotton, buying the organic variety will help reduce these statistics • Once harvested, most cotton is bleached, scoured, dyed and finished off with formaldehydes, flame proofing or moth proofing. Do you really want those chemicals against your baby’s sensitive skin?

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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fashion

le tween for he BOYS ARE HARD TO BUY CLOTHES FOR, ESPECIALLY TWEEN BOYS. THERE JUST ISN’T THE VARIETY LIKE THERE IS FOR GIRLS. UNTIL NOW STORY BELINDA GLINDEMANN

Ask any mother of boys and she will tell you the options available for clothing them are nowhere near as many, or as varied, or as stylish, as for the girls. And when those little boys grow up to be tweens, fashion shopping becomes quite the nightmare. But wait. Before you trade in your daggy tween son for a primped and preened fashionista daughter, check out the newest online boutique specialising in uber-cool threads for tweens, Le Tween.

The brainchild of children’s fashion designer Renee Lee, herself a mother of boy and girl tweens, Le Tween stocks only the trendiest labels from Australia and overseas. Being online, it’s a one-stop shop for time-poor mothers with fashion-forward offspring.

“Tweens are more fashion-conscious these days. They want to look good and feel special too – even the boys,” Renee says. The Tween fashion market is a unique one. Tweens are those children aged 8 to 12 years who have grown up from being classed as

“little kids”, but they are still too young to be dressing in your typical teenager get-up. And there aren’t actually a lot of good Tween fashion specialists around, which is why Renee scoured the international markets to ensure her stock was the best, most unique and relevant to her target audience.

Renee says when it comes to dressing boys, comfort is key. As a parent, you want them to look nice, but they still want to be comfortable while climbing trees and kicking balls around in the backyard. She suggests pairing a trendy printed tee from Los Angeles label Mini & Maximus or even New York’s Appaman (main photo), with a pair of retroprint shorts from Little Mouse Brown (pictured). You can finis the look with an Appaman hat. If you need to step it up a notch for special occasions, swap your tee for Little Mouse Brown’s button-up ‘Majors’ dress shirt in white or navy check or the

collared ‘Marlos No.1’ jersey in chocolate or navy. The Le Tween website also offers weekly fashion news for all tweens – boys and girls – from around the world via Renee’s blog. She also runs a ‘Style Me’ page where you can go for fashion advice and ideas on how to mix and match your Le Tween purchases. Trendy tweens are also invited to submit photos of themselves in their favourite clothes to share their fashion finds and ideas with others www.letween.com

steal their style fashion

THE STUNNING JESSICA ALBA IS EQUALLY AT HOME KICKING BUTT AS DARK ANGEL AS SHE IS IN MUMMY MODE. WITH HER SECOND BUB ON ITS WAY, JESS IS A PIN-UP GIRL FOR ALL PREGNANT WOMEN STORY VICKI WALLIS OF WWW.SHOPPEGIRLS.BLOGSPOT.COM

xi the ma axi m s i style fort on com o to

STOCKISTS To get Jessica Alba’s look, try: Sacha Drake’s Carrie dress $379 www.birdsnest.com.au, Roula sandal $149 www.ninewest.com.au, Pandora silver pendant earrings $179 www.pandora.net To get daughter Honor’s look, try: Alyna vintage rose tutu $149 www.tutudumonde.com, Havaianas $24.95 www.surfstitch.com

Make your day run smoothly with our magnetic activity and reward charts • An exciting tool for children • A great avenue for rewards

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online

little people’s linen

mini sandcrabs

munky & me

toffee apple tummies

Little People’s Linen is a gorgeous street-front boutique and online store catering for babies through to teenagers. We stock the latest trends, styles and designs in children’s linen, furniture and other accessories. www.littlelinen.com.au

We bring you the best in kid’s UPF50+ protective swimwear.

Your little sandcrab will look great in gorgeous stripes and fun fabrics from our range of sunsuits, boardies, rashies, kaftans and mix n match combos for ages 0 to 6. www.minisandcrabs.com.au

Visit Munky & Me today to find s ylish children’s clothing, accessories, décor and much, much more. Get all the latest things for your little one in the one place. You never know, you may even find something s ylish to spoil yourself with too! www.munkyandme.com.au

We believe every pregnant woman is beautiful so why shouldn’t their wardrobes be as well? We stock a great range of maternity and nursing labels including Ripe, Soon Szabo, Bliss, Room 4 Two, Maternal America and Seraphine, as well as baby and kids’ clothes, from 0000-8. www.toffeeappletummies.com.au

baby gear & hammocks

the baby bling store

little yo yo styles

raspberry creative

At Baby Gear and Hammocks we stock a gorgeous range of eco-tested baby hammocks, swinging chairs, slings and blankets to help little ones sleep and rest safely and soundly. Use promo code PEEKABOO for 10 per cent off your order. www.babygearandhammocks.com.au

Our affordable, quality sterling silver children’s jewellery makes the perfect gift that will be kept a lifetime. All our jewellery comes in a handmade pouch ready to give to that special little girl. Personalise your piece with our engraving service. www.babyblingstore.com

Our online boutique offers cute accessories for little angels in these categories: Handmade, Hair Pretty, Jewellery, Accessory, Fashion, Fun, Baby Gear, Mum, Decor, Gift Ideas and more! Shop online or visit us at Carlingford Village Centre, NSW. www.littleyoyostyles.com.au

Looking for unique, handmade invitations (complete with bling!), gift bag tags, cupcake toppers and more for your next party? We have a variety of designs in packs ready for you to fill in, or e can personalise your invitations for that extra special touch. www.raspberrycreative.com.au

father ’s day

DAD'S DAY DADS ARE TRADITIONALLY THE HARDEST PEOPLE TO BUY PRESENTS FOR SO WHEN SEPTEMBER SWINGS AROUND, IT’S ANOTHER CASE OF SOCKS OR JOCKS? FEAR NOT. HERE ARE SOME GREAT IDEAS FROM BABYOLOGY STORY WWW.BABYOLOGY.COM.AU

Modern dads are a discerning lot. They can’t do without their tech toys and their gadgets, they can tell their lattes from their macchiatos and – to the delight of mothers everywhere - they’re the most hands-on dads of any previous generation. They change nappies with aplomb, they can burp a newborn like an old pro and some of them even know the secret to keeping monsters at bay come bedtime.

Mandi Gunsberger Founder of Babyology

So what do you get a dad like that for Father’s Day? Socks? No. Jocks? Better think again. Even that other one-time Father’s Day staple – aftershave - is too cliché and far too ordinary for today’s new breed of dads.

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Just when it all seems too hard, Babyology has come to the rescue with a foolproof guide to choosing the perfect gift for dad this Father’s Day. There’s something to suit all sorts of budgets and all sorts of dads - from the hipsters, the geeks, the cartophiles and the gourmands all the way to the closet photography buffs.

You’ll find more inspiration for Father’s Day on September 4 at Babyology, Australia’s premiere lifestyle website for keeping hip parents in touch with the latest in baby and kid-related design from around the world. www.babyology.com.au

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SAY CHEESE We’re just a bit fond of these amazing Blackbird Fly cameras which look stunning and pay tribute to the growing movement towards 35mm photography. They take easilyavailable film and are $220 ea h from Via Alley. www.viaalley.com

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CHANGE HIS TUNE

IPAD COVERS COVERED

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If, like us, you have coins absolutely everywhere, then grab some fab coin storage from Molla Space. What a stylish way to tidy up that pesky loose change he leaves on every surface. www.mollaspace.com

The iPad in our house belongs to me but my partner is always saying we need to get a good wallet-style cover for it.

This felt one takes our fancy. It’s available online from Etsy’s Byrd and Belle.

If he needs to take his iPad somewhere where there’s water (searching eBay in the bath perhaps, or playing spacies while floating in the pool) then grab a Waterwear cover online at www2.tunewear.com

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We just couldn’t resist this mini-me inclusion. How adorable is this father-son tie onesie and t-shirt set! Get them looking dapper and matchy-matchy in a jiffy. The set of two costs $36 from Chic Couture Boutique on Etsy.

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HARD SUITCASES MADE EASY There’s no denying the appeal of the new Muji Hard Carry Travel Suitcase but you’ll need someone to bring it back from the US for you - it’s $197.50 in the 56 litre version from Muji. www.muji.us

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WHAT’S THE TIME MR WOLF? We love the glitz and glamour of the Nooka Inc Zem Zoo Night watch but there are also more low-key and affordable watches in this innovative range. You find a selection to suit both snappy and more conservative dressers at www.2modern.com

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COFFEE GUZZLER’S DELIGHT Coffee is a subject that inspires absolute fanaticism so why not go all out on a fancy machine? This chrome beauty is the Isomac Zaffiro. The industrial-looking chassis will surely please him (and you get the benefits too. Win-win!). www.espressoitalia.com.au

PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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Dresses From $

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www.italiankidsoutlet.com.au 100% Italian Fashion for Babies, Kids and Mums-to-be... ...the authentic Made in Italy at ‘kids’ prices

Pagina Pubblicitaria ItalianKidsOutlet.indd 5

10/08/11 15.10

Your mum, your sister your best friend...?

Wear a Burt’s Bees lippy* from Myer every day from September 1 to September 30.

Encourage friends and family to put their money where your centre for

mouth is with your personal profile at www.liptember.com.au and support gender specific mental health issues for women.

It’s our turn ladies, let’s make Liptember the word on every woman’s lips.

liptember centre for *Liptember Burt’s Bees Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm available from participating Myer stores until stocks last.

centre for

interiors

toys to last a lifetime THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN WATCHING YOUR KIDS PLAY WITH TOYS THAT YOU OWNED AS A CHILD. GOLLY GOSH’S RANGE WILL BE PASSED DOWN TO YOUR GRANDKIDDIES FOR SURE STORY BELINDA GLINDEMANN

Peekaboo sat down with Golly Gosh owner Carrie Felton to talk about the children’s homewares label. Carrie is no newcomer to the children’s market with brands including Penny Scallan and Stuck On You also in her retail portfolio.

How did the Golly Gosh label begin?

It was inspired by a love of natural, vintage and whimsical pieces. Spending countless days scouring for fabrics and hidden treasures at markets, factories and stalls, we discovered gorgeous selections and offcuts with just enough fabric to create truly unique pieces.

How would you describe the Golly Gosh range?

Golly Gosh is a stylish brand inspiring lovers of timeless toys and home furnishings. Handmade items feature prominently in the collections and, with subtle variances, each piece is unique from the next.

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A lot of love that has gone into the design and creation of these products.

We love the new crochet range, please tell us about it The range includes toys, mobiles, furnishings and rattles.

It features birds, elephants, aeroplanes, donkeys, cars and more, that will inspire play and children will delight in creating memories with these characters. The beautiful pink and cream crochet teapot and tea cups and the stunning crochet blocks in navy blue is sure to become a cherished toy or much-loved gift.

And you have a newly released boys’ range?

Yes, we’ve put together a gorgeous range for boys, including crochet toys and rattles, gorgeous cushions, ornaments and mobiles for the bedroom or nursery. The range highlights retro designs of cars, pick-up trucks, caravans and aeroplanes in soft hues of blue, grey, cream and stone.

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Your favourite boy’s item in the range?

The crochet car and caravan set has just been launched and we know it will become a favourite for all little boys.

Your favourite girl’s item in the range?

The rag doll collection. These handmade dolls make a gorgeous and timeless keepsake for any child. The pale pink and cream crochet teapot and tea cups are also exquisite. www.gollygosh.com

etsy finds

interiors

being enhanced

Pink Bubbles teddy painting www.etsy.com/shop/inameliart

Matryoshka doll www.etsy.com/shop/Ravenhill

decorating duo

Paulina print www.etsy.com/shop/holli

HAVING A BABY SENDS WOMEN INTO A NESTING FRENZY AND SOME OF THE BEST FUN CAN BE HAD PREPARING BABY’S ROOM. HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR KEEPING IT UNIQUE, FROM AVIE & LULU STORY ALEXANDRA VARDAKIS OF WWW.AVIEANDLULU.COM PHOTO GREGORY CASE

When Alex Vardakis and Sophie Aspros from the boutique event styling business Avie & Lulu found out they were having daughters exactly one month apart, they spiralled into a decorating frenzy, as you do. They scoured both the local markets and global online resources for the most unique and beautiful finds to adorn their n w babies’ rooms.

Etsy, the vibrant handmade marketplace is one of their favorite places to shop online.

“It’s a melting pot of talent from around the world, showcased beautifully,” says Alex. “It is a great place to find one-off items to create a unique space for your baby.”

Starting with one special piece and working other elements to fit in with that is the key to decorating. For example, Alex started with a handmade quilt made of recycled woollen jumpers.

“I loved the texture it added to the room. It also set the mood for a subdued colour palette of soft pink, cream and natural linen,” she says.

The girls believe artwork is also an important element in designing a baby’s room and there is an amazing array of original prints and paintings available online.

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“I purchased my prints from Etsy,” says Sophie. “They’re original and I love the fact I’m supporting an artist and know I won’t see the prints anywhere else.”

Another online source of inspiration for the Avie & Lulu girls comes from www.notonthehighstreet.com where the girls have purchased gorgeous handmade toys and pretty decorative hanging hearts which add a girly touch to any room.

“Classic furniture is another great base to work from as you will never tire of it and you can always change your theme with little expense by purchasing new bed linen or artwork with a different feel,” Sophie says.

Finally, the girls both agree that a baby’s room should be a calming environment, steering away from clutter and featuring a few beautiful pieces that your child will always treasure.

orable ing mem

Felt crown www.etsy.com/shop/StellandLivi

rooms

nt and d wall pai rniture an s fu ce f ie o p s rm decorative ase in te neutral b ft furnishings and a h it w u r nique 1. Start lour by way of so e Etsy, fo laces, lik tp add co ke ar e m any onlin ut the m ure will treas 2. Checkfroom around the glob ur child ieces yo finds p l fu ti wer beau ore on fe rchases ces 3. Spendadmof making many pu w key pie e st with a fe in an e cl m the roo er. Keep . Avoid clutt

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STOCKIST 1. Bob duck clutch toy and teether, $17.95 2. Webster frog wobbly stacking toy, $49.95

interiors

3. Soft activity cube, $39.95 4. Flo dragonfly headhugge , $19.95

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5. 3-in-1 Boat Playmat & Gym $99.00 www.silvercross.com.au

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toys story THERE ARE SO MANY TOYS OUT THERE TO CHOOSE FROM BUT THESE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVOURITES FROM SILVERCROSS

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Stylish, educational gifts and nursery interiors for babies and children

15% off using code ‘peekaboo’ (does not include sale items or Il tutto bags)

Shop online

www.sweetcreations.com.au info@sweetcreations.com.au

interiors

sleeping beauty SHEETS ARE A NECESSITY IN LIFE, BUT SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED WHEN CONSIDERING YOUR BUB’S BEDROOM DESIGN

Every parent knows that cot sheets are a must-have on the list of essential items for baby. But don’t overlook the humble sheet when putting your child’s room theme together.

arrival of her twin boys and busily designing her dream nursery. Visualising a fresh, inviting space, filled with complementary colours and simple, yet sophisticated patterns, Marrianne turned to her beloved sewing machine and set about creating the beautiful linens that she desired.

Australian label Bolly & Bear has just released a new range of 100 per cent cotton ‘Sweetsheets’ that are a practical way to add beautiful colour and style to your little one’s nursery.

Thousands of phone calls and many months later, Bolly & Bear was launched in 2010, debuting with six beautiful collections of mix-and-match linen, three styles of bedding and coordinating accessories.

Featuring gorgeous colours and simple, timeless designs, Sweetsheets make it easy for parents to coordinate with their existing linen and also match perfectly with the Bolly & Bear range of infant bedding and accessories.

Growing and evolving everyday, Bolly & Bear sources beautiful, timeless 100 per cent cotton fabrics from both local and international design houses. Every piece in the collection,

The idea for Bolly & Bear originally came about in April, 2009. At the time, Marrianne Curtis was eagerly awaiting the

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from the super gorgeous cot comforters and covers to the beautiful pillows and cushions, is crafted with the highest care and attention.

Sweetsheets are available in standard or large sizes. You can purchase fitted cot sheets and two-piece sheet sets. www.bollyandbear.com.au

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Mamas & Papas Gingerbread knitted blanket www.childsmart.com.au

bedtime

Golly Gosh pear shelf sitters, from $39.95 each www.gollygosh.com

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Auggie cot bumpers, cross stich available in Ocean or Pink www.myfirst oom.com.au

Stuck on You height chart www.stuckonyou.com.au

Mamas & Papas Gingerbread lampshade www.childsmart.com.au

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nursery rhymes

Mamas & Papas Gingerbread pony www.childsmart.com.au

DECORATING BUB’S NURSERY IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING PREGNANT. HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO GET THE INTERIOR DESIGN JUICES FLOWING

Habitat Baby organic cotton geo cot set www.habitatbaby.com.au

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travel

sunshine state SPRING HAS SPRUNG AND SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND HAS NEVER LOOKED SO APPEALING AS A FAMILY HOLIDAY DESTINATION, ESPECIALLY WHERE NOVOTEL IS CONCERNED STORY CARLA ADAMS

novotel twin waters Why do parents love resorts? I say it’s because you assume you’ll get a break from the kids. If you too have little Misses or Misters the best way to achieve that, at Novotel Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast, is to enrol them in a three-hour session at Kidz Cove. Here they enjoy cooking classes, face painting, dress ups, water play, a fairy house, climbing wall and all the things you yourself would do with your child if you weren’t in desperate need of, well, a break.

On our recent stay our girls didn’t quite make it to Kidz Cove.

Why? One word. Lagoon. The huge, private salt-water lagoon is action central here at Novotel Twin Waters. Even on an overcast day everyone is busy launching their catamarans, balancing precariously on paddleboards, or drifting aimlessly in canoes. The short jetty gives you a perfect view over to the water trampoline, which in all its simplicity is the stuff of childhood fantasies. Paddle over. Climb on. Bounce.

Higher. Jump off into the water. Repeat ad nauseum until time for lunch.

Free fun stuff is the war cry at Novotel Twin Waters. Beyond the bouncing – catamarans, wind surfers, kayaks, kids bikes, pool equipment, water trampoline, putt putt golf and general lagoon-side galavanting seem to be enough to keep most of the ‘I’m bored’ grumbles away. For some dollars, there’s golf for the gents, surfing lessons and board hire and a day

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spa with all the trimmings. The whole family can even go to circus school.

And then there’s Segway. It sounds like a distinguished old gentleman butler. But it’s actually the latest and greatest in fun, environmentally friendly travel, a two-hour tour allowing you to zip around pathways, beaches and even through bushland.

This weekend, the perfectly manicured lawns were filled with family groups tossing balls around and looking very relaxed. I spotted plenty of ladies in beachside attire wandering around with glasses of white wine, which made me wish I had brought my sarong and that I drank white wine.

We retreated to the pool and spa for a large part of an afternoon, then regrouped at our King Suite, which boasted plenty of space, a spa bath and a view through the trees to the lagoon. Friends joined us for a stint at Aqua Bar which turned into a long afternoon of grazing tapas and delicious wood-fired pizzas. Our assorted kids and babies revelled in the comfy banquette seating, upholstered stools and easy access to the lawn and lagoon shore.

Novotel Twin Waters is also perfectly placed within pretty easy reach of those Sunshine Coast institutions like Noosa, Australia Zoo and Underwater World. Next time I’ll remember my sarong. www.twinwatersresort.com.au

novotel brisbane Little kids never tire of the city – the big, tall buildings that look even bigger when you are only three-feet tall, the twinkling city lights and the general buzz in the air.

Whether you are from interstate or a Brisbanite simply looking for a change of pace this weekend, Novotel Brisbane is an excellent CBD base for your family to take in what South-East Queensland has to offer.

From your hotel, it’s a short walk to Central Station and then an express train to that magical place that makes everyone feel like a kid again – Dreamworld. The kids will be run ragged by the excitement of real live tigers, cuddling koalas, watching the sheep shearing show, exploring the other interactive exhibits and, of course, braving all the many rides. As a parent,

travel

beach bliss IF A SELF-CONTAINED, PET-FRIENDLY, BEACHFRONT PROPERTY SCREAMS ‘FAMILY HOLIDAY’ TO YOU, READ ON

Beach holidays are some of the greatest and most memorable family getaways on offer and Torquay Beach is up there with the finest Front Beach Beach Houses are just that. Situated right across the road from Front Beach, the property offers three separate beach houses with a relaxed, fun and convenient self-contained set up and stunning ocean views. All are two bedrooms with enclosed, secure yards for children and pets. They are equipped with open fireplaces a microwave, LCD TVs, DVD player, barbecue, offstreet parking, games and more.

Far left, Novotel Brisbane. Above, Novotel Twin Waters

Dreamworld’s charm is in its ability to entertain all members of the family, whether you have toddlers, tweens, teens or a mixture of all. Their Q4U system allows you to ‘virtually’ queue for rides, so you don’t have to keep those wriggling and restless kids in check while you wait in line. And Dreamworld is the only theme park in Australia to offer ‘Parent Swap’ where you and your other half can take turns on the big thrill rides while the other waits with the kids, without having to line up twice.

free of charge when sharing a room with their parents or grandparents and they enjoy complimentary buffet breakfast any day of the week. If you prefer to spread out, families can book a second room for their children at just half the price of their own room. Novotel also understands that weekend escapes can be tiring for families and after exploring until your heart’s content, they offer a 5pm late check-out on Sundays, to enable families to enjoy a whole two days together for the price of just one night.

Although there is so much that Brisbane’s CBD has to offer guests (including river cruises, inner city markets, the Queensland Museum or Riverlife Adventure Centre for some abseiling, kayaking, rock climbing or rollerblading, for example), don’t dismiss the Novotel itself as an attraction for holidaying families. Novotel Brisbane’s ‘Family and Novotel’ policy means up to two children, aged 0-15 years, stay

The property also has a dedicated play area for children, free Nickelodeon cartoon network, complimentary internet usage per room, large outdoor swimming pool and one of the most welcoming hotel restaurants a frazzled mother, with multiple rowdy kids in tow, could ever ask for.

Each catering for up to a family of six, these beach houses are even pet friendly so those four-legged family members can even come along. There are playgrounds, parks and restaurants at your door or you can enjoy a spot of whale watching, windsurfin , swimming, surfin , fishin , golfing or wine tasting at the nearby wineries. And don’t forget that Torquay is the gateway to the Great Ocean Road. Torquay is 15 minutes from Geelong city and one hour from Melbourne. www.frontbeachtorquay.com

www.dreamworld.com.au, www.novotel.com PEEKABOO MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

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Some women love being pregnant.

Seriously. I don’t know who or where they are but apparently they are out there. Maybe you’re one of them.

If so, lucky you.

Being pregnant was not my favourite thing ever. Of course, I was thrilled when I found out I was preggo and was able to daydream about being kept in the manner to which I have yet to become accustomed by my future rockstar or nerdy IT progeny. But that was soon superceded by an all-encompassing paranoia that knew no bounds. No sooner had my pregnancy been confirmed I was indulging in all manner of catastrophic hypochondriac delusions. Ooh my nose is a bit itchy – OH MY GOD, I’ve got freakin’ swine flu. All those salt and vinegar chips have given me a gut ache – OH MY GOD the baby is growing outside of my uterus! You get the picture.

In fact, my partner was so sick of me asking him 84,000 times a day whether he thought I was actually pregnant or whether it was a particularly realistic figment of my imagination that he bought me a Doppler machine on eBay so I could obsess about the baby’s heartbeat to my own heart’s content. Once the firs trimester had passed, which only took about a decade and included al fresco morning spews in the front garden, it was time for my next obsession – stretch marks. One particularly competitive and heartless friend, who had had a baby just months earlier, would ask me with stunning regularity if I had developed any stretch marks yet and that if my mum had them I was stuffed. Of course she had managed to escape completely physically unscathed, just like her mother who had birthed four children drug free and without gaining a single blemish. Mole.

I’d never even considered stretch marks so quickly asked my mum if she had any. She assured me she had gotten LOADS but they had faded a bit after a few years. Another friend told me she had gone through her entire pregnancy without gaining a single stretchmark, until labour when they suddenly appeared all over her belly. Of course, striving for any kind of vanity during

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pregnancy is like fighting a losing battle. Puffy ankles - check.

Snoring – oh yeah. My midwife (whose name was Minge but that’s a WHOLE other story) even told me my head had become a completely different shape and was almost perfectly spherical.

Although alcohol is a no-no during pregnancy, it’s not a bad idea to encourage your partner to indulge, if for no other reason than they won’t notice the unsightly hair growth you can’t deal with anymore because you can’t see any of your rude bits.

Towards the end of my second trimester I discovered I had gestational diabetes. Sigh. Not that there’s anything wrong with living on water and cardboard, but if you’re going to get fat you should be able to have some bloody hot chips to take the edge off. As my due date approached and I became increasingly slowmoving, my litany of complaints grew ever larger. Braxton Hicks?

Like you wouldn’t believe. Reflux?The kind that makes your teeth rot. Puffy feet? What do you think?

And the less said about the various undignified ways I tried to induce labour the better. Suffice to say I’m not sure how effective sex as an induction manner is when you are so fat your partner is doing it with your thighs and can’t tell the difference.

But almost two years ago, my son finally arrived. The birth was like something out of a horror film that even my unshockable partner looked a little peaky by the end. But then there was Zac. So give me stretch marks, dodgy sugar levels, man-esque snoring and projectile public spews. Give me all of it. I’d do it all again.

Well, maybe not the stretch marks.

STORY ZAC’S MUM BLACK