Not another slippery dip

Embracing the messy, mundane & momentous

A holiday with kids – The Verdict

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IMG_1565It is often said, amongst parents, that a holiday with young kids is a bit of a scam, with less of the relaxing part and more of the effort part. Whilst it’s true you need to redefine your expectations of a holiday when you have little ones, it’s possible to relax, reset and recharge. You just need to pick the right time, the right destination and have the right attitude. Two weeks ago I posted here about my hopes, fears and goals for this holiday. And the verdict is in.

Here are my top ten reasons in favour of holidaying with little ones, and why Noosa is the ideal destination….

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A perfect birthday party for a 3-year-old girl

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Party table

Party table

It was no surprise when Miss J requested a PINK party to celebrate her 3rd birthday. Recently pink has become her favourite colour, and we happen to have a lot of it in this house! Miss A had the same preoccupation with the colour pink at the same age.

I toyed with the idea of hosting Miss J’s party elsewhere, having been to some great parties lately. But instead I opted for a low key affair at home and I reckon I got it right. It was a relatively stress free event which didn’t cost much in terms of dollars or my sanity. The key was keeping the numbers down. Last year Miss J got a bit overwhelmed by the excitement so this year we only invited a few cousins and a couple of friends. All the party guests were preschoolers and I kept it short. An hour and a half is plenty for a 3-year-old….

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Happy Birthday to me!

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One-Candle-cakeIt’s hard to believe that a year has passed since I wrote my first post on a blog called Not another slippery dip. I remember the combined excitement and nervousness I felt when I pressed PUBLISH and sent my post out to the blogosphere. I say blogosphere because it’s sounds a lot more impressive than the two readers (my husband, and my sister) who were the only ones following my blog at the time!

I decided to write a blog to nourish my creative side, and to provide another layer to my life. I confess I knew nothing about blogging and what it would entail. I gave little thought to what I would write about, and I didn’t know about the “rules” required to establish a loyal following. Since then the terms ‘readership’, ‘messaging’, ‘traffic’, ‘hits’, ‘integration’, ‘widgets’ and ‘plugins’ have become part of my vernacular. I’ve learnt about Search Engine Optimization,  “engagement”, Google plus, Author Sure, marketing across multiple platforms, tweeting, sharing, commenting, uploading, and, more importantly, writing….

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Your chance to win an Estela gift voucher

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One-Candle-cakeA very important birthday is just around the corner. Not another slippery dip is turning 1 at the end of August and there’s lots to celebrate. As a way of thanking my readers,  Not another slippery dip is offering you the chance to win one of two Estela jewellery gift vouchers valued at $120 each.

Estela was established by Elizabeth Salter, a young mum with a keen eye on fashion, travel and all things beautiful. She has two young daughters and her jewellery is elegant, fun and accessible. If you haven’t already done so, visit Estela and check out their stunning range….

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How to host the perfect kids’ birthday party

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Image 1I’ve been a parent for just over 4 years now and it’s taken me 7 birthday parties to figure out where I’ve been going wrong. And the answer is simple: I’ve been hosting them at home! Last weekend Miss A was invited to two different 4 year-old parties. These smart mothers had the sense to outsource the parties. Clever.  Both parties were a hit and it has struck me that this could be the way to go.

Children’s birthday parties have changed a lot in recent years. In the last generation, most parties were celebrated modestly at the  family home where ‘Pin the tail on the Donkey’, and ‘Pass-the-parcel’ were de rigour. A themed party or a fancy pants cake were about as exciting and unique as they got. And there’s nothing wrong with that – we all loved them! But, in the words of Bob Dylan, The times they are a-changin’! And I think it might be time for me to change party tactics….

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The babymoon with a twist

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IMG_2650Having a baby today involves a lot more celebrating than it did in previous generations. A baby shower is no longer the only ritual surrounding pregnancy and birth. Recently we have seen the birth of babymoons, gender reveal parties, and push presents.

Anticipating the arrival of your first baby is a lot of fun.  For parents-to-be, the latest must-do is a babymoon! Just like a honeymoon, the babymoon is all about escaping the day to day, offering a last chance romantic getaway before two becomes three or more. More realistically, for those with pregnancy fatigue, it’s a little quiet time for couples to enjoy together, with some pampering on the side. Most parents-to-be take a babymoon in the third trimester, before flying restrictions.

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Your chance to win a $150 Elk gift voucher!

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Image 2Mother’s day is just around the corner and not another slippery dip is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a $150 Elk gift voucher which can be used in store or online.  Elk is based in Melbourne and offers original, contemporary designed fashion accessories, leather goods and beautiful apparel.   Dads – you have the chance to win too! You will certainly be in the good books this Mother’s Day if you present your loved one with an Elk voucher….

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A fool-proof fourth birthday party!

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IMG_2822 How to host a 4th birthday party in a few easy steps!

1. Provide sugar! For a brief moment I considered presenting a fruit platter but then I came to my senses. Keep party food simple. Bright, colourful and sweet!

2. Decorate cake with lashings of buttercream. It forgives any sins and it’s the only thing the kids will eat.

3. Party games are great at a preschoolers party but they don’t have long attention spans. Pass the parcel is a favourite and Pinata is a crowd pleaser and gives them a chance to let off some steam (sugar!). …

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A musing: On becoming a mother

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Becoming a mother is life-changing

Becoming a mother is life-changing

The third day of April is a very significant day for me.  It’s the day I reflect on the experience that most changed my life. Four years ago on this day I gave birth to my first baby. It’s the day I stared in utter amazement and wonder at my daughter. It’s the day I became a mother.

On the 3rd of April 2009, on a wild and stormy autumn day, my long-awaited daughter was born. After much coaxing and a fair degree of force, Miss A was placed in my arms and she was the most perfect thing I have ever seen. Oblivious to her pronounced cone head (a result of the aforementioned force) I felt a surge of emotion that will almost certainly be the greatest experience of my life….

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The scent and sentiment of Christmas

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xmas lightsChristmas is only days away and the retailers and marketers are rallying to convince us that we must spend money on the perfect gift.

Whilst contemplating what to give my children this Christmas I tried to remember the best present I ever received as a child. With the exception of my first tennis racket I couldn’t think of a single thing.  What I could remember, however, was a Christmas experience, which became an annual ritual and remains one of my most cherished childhood memories.

A generation on, I still remember the evening unfolding with perfect clarity.  A few nights before Christmas, just as dusk turned to night, our father would bundle up my four sisters and I and drive us into the city. To share an experience alone with our dad was a great novelty for the five of us. He worked six days a week and went back to the office most nights after dinner. But at Christmas time we shared two important activities with him: we would go and see the Myer windows and then visit his office.

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