#13 The 1st birthday

Well hello, I haven't blogged for a while but today I am stuck inside due to heavy rain so I have time to catch up on stuff like this.

Since my last post my Daughter had her first birthday and I'd like to say that I kept it real for her party... That we had a small cake and celebrated with the grandparents.... but that would be a lie :(

    I just couldn't do it! Sorry to have a moment of KIR weakness but...You see... that would have been all well and good if we weren't so blessed with people who genuinely love and care for Jemma but soooooo many people deserved to celebrate with us I just couldn't stop myself.
   So I went a bit over the top. We had lots of decorations, a couple of games for the kids, way too much food, a gazebo, a brightly coloured rainbow cake topped with smarties and edible glitter, kids music and the list goes on. Ooppppps! 

  Having been through it now, as a parent, I think a child's 1st birthday is incredibly important. Not necessarily for the child...as you can guarantee they won't remember it...but for the parents and community who have managed to somehow keep them alive for a full year! That is an achievement not to be scoffed at and my husband and I wanted to publicly thank everyone for their contribution to Jemma's life. A lot happens in that year. It still blows me away to think about it and it's certainly worth celebrating however you feel comfortable... I did however decide to hold back on the jumping castle and petting zoo this year. That would be going too far....Even for a proud mum like me :) KIR the best you can! 

#12 Enough said

Enough said! 

Keep it real :)

#11Trolley Folly

I like the thrill of the chase... Finding bargains...you know?... Well you can certainly do that at Costco. We went on a family outing there this afternoon with some friends who have a membership... Shout out to Bel and Dave... Honestly I really enjoyed it. We had a lot of fun with our daughter and our friends and we got some cheap stuff which is always good when you have a family but despite generally having the power to block annoying things out, I couldn't help but notice one thing. The lack of manners and consideration shown by those around us. 

  

People of Australia I ask you... Have manners gone out the door? What about consideration? Out the window? 

At Costco everyone has a huuuuuge trolley to carry their huuuuuuge bulk supply of toilet paper and, suffice to say, those things are not easy to manoeuvre. So, would not a little order be called for? Nup... Trolleys going here...going there...without a care in the world...except to nab the next bargain of course.

That's why I've invented a super hero for Costco to help customers enjoy their shopping experience a bit more... 

Enter "Nanna Manner"! 

A wise old gal who confronts those who show a lack of manners and consideration and puts them back on the right track.

She tells people to keep left unless overtaking another trolley.

She outlaws kicking, spitting, pulling and pushing.

And she enforces vigilance and mindfulness to those around you at all times.

Costco... If you're listening... You need Nanna Manner pronto. Actually scrap that... Australia YOU need Nanna Manner... I think we might be a confused nation when it comes to manners. I don't want the country that my daughter is inheriting from me to be like this in the future. Something must be done!

"Nanna Manner... Save us!"

K.I.R :)

#10 K.I.S.S

Sorry to disappoint guys but this is not a "How to" guide to kissing. Actually now I think about it it's much more boring than that. Nevertheless... I choose to continue. 
   You may recall in post #1, I mentioned that I have some mantras for my life... Well today, in conjunction with International day of happiness, I have decided to talk about one of them. " Keep it simple" and by "it" I mean life. 
  Since I can remember, I've never wanted to live a complicated life. My parents will even tell you stories of my telling them this at a very young age. " Mum, I just want to live a simple life." I would say. And for the most part I think I have to this point. Although, having Jemma has certainly added another layer to my life... All be it, one which I don't regret a bit and which gives me great joy.  I do often wonder though, why?, as humans, we seem to need to complicate. I think happiness can come from "just being"...being content with what we have. I understand that there are circumstances out of our control that can help to complicate our lives but I also think that some of us look for something to complicate our lives. Better Job, more money, new clothes, bigger house, more activities to do with our kids etc. 
The happiest moment I've had this week was sitting in our big red reading chair just cuddling my baby after reading a book. That was enough.
What would life look like if we didn't pressure ourselves to have more, more, more and just said Enough, enough, enough... Be content...and arguably...happy?

Just something to ponder this week... Keep it real people! 

P.s Happy International day of Happiness for Friday 20th :) 

#9 Things to look for when buying a... Pram

Warning: The following piece is an attempt at satire and sarcasm. Please don't take it too seriously!

Things to look for when buying a...

Pram

These days there are so many Prams on the market that it can be hard deciding which one to buy. Here is a fool proof list of things you need in a good pram.

1. Wheels- always good to have wheels. They keep the pram moving.

2. A seat - it's nice to have somewhere for your child to sit in a pram. Comfort first!

3. Handles- these make pushing a breeze!

4. Big basket under the seat- Holds more stuff... Like shopping bags!

5. Brakes- help to prevent rolling accidents on hills and train platforms and keep the pram steady on a bus.

6. Sun hood- stops nosey onlookers from taking a sneaky-peek at your baby at the shops... Oh and UV Rays... It keeps those pesky strong Aussie UV Rays from hitting the silky soft skin of your bub... Hence aiding the prevention of skin cancer.

7. Straps- nothing like strapping a child down... No...but seriously... They're a good safety feature... Especially on hills and train platforms :) 

And remember to take this helpful list with you when you go to the Baby Warehouse to buy your pram! You can't go wrong! 

K.I.R!!!!

#8 Food Preparation

Today I'm gonna write about food time... For the baby?...No. For the parents. Hey... You gotta look after yourself too.

You see, feeding my daughter is not a challenge. She'll eat basically everything at the moment...including cockroaches, leaves and cardboard boxes. But this is the issue. Every time we go to eat and "guzzle guts" is around she wants some.

So in these situations if you, the parent, wants to eat anything, you need to be prepared to either let them eat your food or keep them occupied with something else while you eat. Otherwise you could have a battle bigger than Galipolli on your hands. 

In this post I'm going to focus on the types of foods that work well for us in this situation.

1. Tacos, Burritos and Fajitas

These kits are great! All you need is the kit, tomato, lettuce, mince and cheese.

Feeding method

The brilliant thing is that you can play tag-team with someone else while eating. 

Picture this: 

You make sure the baby is being looked after by someone and you go to the table of pre-prepped Taco ingredients. You fill your taco and eat it. Then take the bub off your partner, occupy the little one and let them eat. Then, when they are finished their first helping, give the child back to them and repeat. Makes life easier for all.

2. Vietnamese rice paper rolls

All you need is rice stick noodles, rice papers, chicken, prawns or mince, fresh mint, Coriander and a bottle of Asian style sauce. 

Feeding method

It's really the same feeding method as above only with different ingredients.

This one is sooooo fresh for Sydney's summer.

3. Beef ravioli

Latina makes it and it comes in a packet which can be accompanied by a microwaveable sauce. Boil the pasta, microwave the sauce. Done. Sometimes we add other veggies too. So easy!

Feeding method

This one was a good one to share with Jemma. Even though she still has no teeth, the soft texture of the pasta was quite appropriate for her. She loved it! 

That's enough for now about food. I'm getting hungry.

Be prepared, keep it easy and most importantly... keep it real!

#7 Save it for a rainy day... Not!!!!

Maybe I'm stingy... or maybe just frugal?... but one thing I know is that I get really annoyed when I think companies are trying to cheat me out of money just because I have a child. So I guess I try to go out of my way to think of ways of entertaining my daughter that don't cost a bomb. Don't get me wrong... I'm happy to pay for entertainment as a special treat. I'd just rather not make it common practice for her to expect expensive outings as she grows up. Sometimes you may have to think creatively but seriously, we live in Australia. We have an outdoor culture and there are so many things to do. In most streets, let alone suburbs there are parks with playgrounds. Then there are beaches, rivers, creeks, bicycle paths, skateparks, bush walks the list goes on. I guess perhaps, the trouble can come when we experience rainy days and we need indoor activities. Well before you go out and spend $100 + to take your family to the movies because you can't think of anything else to do...here is a tip.
Use what's around you. 
   Living in Western Sydney can be both a blessing and a curse. There is an abundance of fast food restaurants, shopping centres and hardware Megastores and my family happens to live on a main road opposite a number of the aforementioned stores. Before having my daughter I saw them as more of a curse. Obesity inducing eyesores that proved tempting when tired and hungry after a long day at work... but now as a parent I see them in a new light.
The playgrounds rock! I can walk my daughter across the road and I have instant entertainment at my disposal. Even in the rain!! And the most I will spend is perhaps $3 for a coffee. sweeeet! Then i started thinking more widely.
Shopping centre playgrounds! If you live in western Sydney I recommend Rouse Hill Town Centre. The play areas there are top notch, as are the baby change rooms and I have also discovered that the library has a wide variety of kids books and a lovely reading area.

Thinking about it... you probably know this stuff already. Sorry if you're thinking "duhh" ...but as my daughter is only 10 months old and just started walking these thoughts are new and exciting for me. I guess...Enjoy life with your bubs and don't think you have to spend a fortune for quality time with them. They love you no matter what. Think creatively and Keep it real. Over and out.