Little did I know it would springboard into my own business (Mum PR) where I now work with a team to do PR, social media, blogger outreach, writing, marketing and media management for various clients. You just don’t know who’s reading!
What could you explore on your blog? What are you good at that has business potential? Go on, we’d love to hear it!
This mini post is part of a regular microblogging series, #BloggingPrompts.
IF THIS was an album, it would be called a Best Of. Instead, it’s a blog, so we’re calling it a Sneeze Page. It’s also part of Day 18 of 31 Days To Build A Better Blog.
A Sneeze Page is something that “propels people in different directions deep within your blog by highlighting a variety of posts you’ve previously written”. Of course, we’ve only been blogging for a month, so our archives aren’t exactly “deep”.
So we’re bringing you the best bits from the past month that made us laugh, cry (that would be the iPhone story) and think about the future. Enjoy!
Do you agree with our list, or was there another of our posts that you would have included? Let us know.
By the way, today I’m taking part in FlogYoBlog Friday for the first time. Click on the links to read some other awesome posts from around the mummy blogosphere!
Today also happens to coincide with the bloke in The Shed, Julian, posting about our li’l girl turning her nose up to all things green – except the green in her nose, of course. Preschoolers. Phuff!
Please, leave him a comment. We’d both appreciate any tips!
By Julian O’Brien
IN PRINCESS Ella, we used to think we had a dream child.
At first, Ella would eat anything; she even used to eat olives like they were M&Ms. Then something happened and she suddenly became extremely fussy about her vegies, particularly “the green ones’’.
She still has her favourites though. Raw carrot and mushrooms will be consumed faster than you can say “pickle me grandmother’’ and I have literally seen her devour a corn cob faster than Homer Simpson can shotgun a can of Duff Beer. She even ate the broccolini on her plate first the other day – probably because we called it “baby broccoli’’.
So, what to do?
Well, we disguise her veggies. We cooked zucchini in the form of both fritters and slice, combining them with some of her “favourites” such as corn, mushies and even bacon bits. It worked for a little while.
Then Princess Kel had a good idea: what about Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni? That was OK till Ella found out you could unwrap the spinach and ricotta and just eat the pasta.
Meat? A whole other story. Like her dad, Ella is a meat girl, preferably steak. Recently, presentations of perfectly good rissoles and sausages have been met with “I want steak, please”. Scotch fillet, to be precise. Sheesh. Talk about expensive taste.
Thank goodness we only have to worry about boobie juice for Baby Holly … for the moment.
So how do you go with your fussy eater? What tips and tricks have you uncovered?
BEFORE children we vowed our kids would not be subjected to The Wiggles or Hi-5.
Within six months of Princess Ella being born, that went out the window – along with “we will not let them eat chocolate’’ and “we will not take them grocery shopping’’.
While books and craft take precedence in our household, there’s always time for a li’l TV each day.
Here’s 10 of our top Aussie kids’ shows and how they’re affecting our children (not to mention doing a mother’s head in):
Playschool – Watch for puzzled looks on children’s faces. While we wondered why our parents were laughing at John Hamblin’s adult humour all those years ago, now our children are wondering what’s so funny about Rhys Muldoon. “Ah, nothing, darling’’.
The Wiggles – These four skivvy-clad men have taught children that it’s OK to scream “wake up Jeff’’ to a sleeping baby. Sheesh!
Dorothy The Dinosaur – Children are learning to sing opera and dance ballet. However, as you’ll see in the YouTube video, it’s also creating divas who like to hog the spotlight.
Hi-5 – Similar to Dorothy, this one has taught them when Teddy Bear or Monster Dance comes on, Mum is not to sing the lead, only back-up vocals.
Magical Tales – Just because Sparkles and William can say “Spellaroo’’ and the Star House is cleaned up instantly, doesn’t mean it will work in real life. After attempting this one three times, it resulted in a very disappointed preschooler.
The Fairies – Children must have a fairy dress, shoes and wand with them to be able to dance properly. If they can’t find their fairy dress, all hell breaks loose.
The Kingdom of Paramithi – “Every day is a special day’’, except on days when you throw a killer tantrum. And mum doesn’t respond to: “Genevieve? Can you do a dance for me?’’ while twirling your finger.
Toy Box – Has learnt a new way to sing the alphabet that’s far more annoying than the time-honoured version. It also means now that “T’’ is our favourite letter.
Ella and Kellie during a meet and greet with Dorothy in 2008
Zigby – Just because you can hear Playschool favourite Justine Clarke singing, doesn’t mean you can see her. “Quick mum, it’s Justine.’’ Runs from the kitchen to the lounge. “Oh, where’s Justine?’’ Yes, sorry, just a stupid zebra (once known as a stripy horse).
Bindi The Jungle Girl – Teaching our children it’s OK to pick up snakes, spiders, rats … oh, and crocodiles. A real education.
So, what shows do your children watch? And, more importantly, what are they learning?
It’s meant to be a short summary to define this blog’s “value proposition’’ and is named so to reflect the idea “that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately 30 seconds to two minutes.”
So, here goes… The tag line and elevator pitch. There’s a new About page included too.
Tag line:
Where parents are sent for time out…
Elevator pitch:
Just endured the fourth all-out, screaming, kicking tantrum for the day (yours, not the kids)? Then stop. Breathe. Step inside Three Li’l Princesses’ tranquil palace – home to a funny mummy blogger, hilarious daddy blogger and two li’l princesses. Catch up on news. Share a laugh. Shed a tear. Be inspired. Or simply recharge the batteries. This is your virtual mum’s group when the real thing just isn’t available. After all, when parenting gets “interesting’’, it’s nice to know there’s someone out there experiencing the exact same moment.
About page:
Where parents are sent for time out…
After 15 years in journalism, much of it producing newspaper entertainment magazines, this mum-of-two decided to start Three Li’l Princesses.
The catalyst was requests from readers to continue the successful long-running “Mum’s The Word’’ newspaper series _ one I still get asked about two years on. It was an honest account of Princess Ella’s existence from when she was a mere bun in the oven, with a bit of humour thrown in.
But, as we know, parenting can also be damn challenging. Even more so with the addition of Baby Holly in October.
Some days you barely survive the piercing repetition of “but why?’’, tripping over mountains of toys, two hours of sleep in 24 hours and the fourth tantrum for the day (yours, not the kids).
Then again, you can just pop in to catch up on the news, share stories or be reminded why you became a parent in the first place in this virtual mum’s group.
Dads, you’re not left out either. Daddy blogger Julian has plenty of room in The Shed.
So whether you’re living through it, lived it in a past life or are on the brink of jumping in, make yourself at home in The Palace and catch up on news, share a laugh, shed a tear, be inspired or simply recharge the batteries.
After all, when parenting gets “interesting’’, it’s nice to know there’s someone out there experiencing the exact same moment.
Who lives here?
Kellie (Li’l Princess No. 1) : Journalist, funny mummy blogger, mum to Princesses No. 2 and 3 and a li’l princess herself, at just 150cms. OK, so that’s being a tad generous. As a breastfeeding mum, she misses chocolate, wine … and sleep.
Julian (Bloke in The Shed): Deputy editor, daddy blogger and dad to Princesses No. 2 and 3. Married to his iPhone and is finding a thinner version of himself via the Nintendo Wii.
Ella (Princess No. 2): Now three years of age and ruler of the house. Loves dancing, singing and coming out with ridiculously funny lines, which is inevitable when she talks as much as she does.
Holly (Princess No. 3): Born in October, she loves laughing, giggling and chortling. Oh, and boobie juice. But, for some reason, doesn’t like sleeping. Hmmm.
So what do you think? Accurate? Need work? Please be as honest as possible. Any feedback is welcome.
