threelilprincesses.com

Author: Kellie O’Brien

  • The day I thought I was having a heart attack – emergency plan for kids

    The day I thought I was having a heart attack – emergency plan for kids

    emergency plan

    Ella was just three the day I thought I was having a heart attack. Turns out, it was just a bit of indigestion. I may have slightly overreacted. It prompted me to write the post I don’t want to leave my daughters helpless about teaching Ella what to do in an emergency.

    I posted about it on Facebook and got a host of suggestions on ways to educate them, including the hilarious response from Barb who, after teaching her daughter to dial 000, decided to feign collapse. Instead of ringing for help, her daughter jumped up and down on her guts… not a good result

    Ella is now nearly five and learning to read, so I thought it was time we updated our emergency plan. If you can recall, the ringing Dad bit was easy. If Dad didn’t answer, then teaching her to ring 000 was fine too.

    It was this conversation that was worrying:

    Where do you live, Ella?
    Ella: “Hippopatmus Drv, Devonport (not our real street address, in case you were wondering!)’’. That’s fantastic, except we’re missing the all-important house number.
    “I don’t know.’’ After explaining that, yes, it’s seven, we tried again.
    “7 Hippopotamus Dve, Hobart’’. What? OK, so we’d just been to Hobart for a holiday. Let’s try again.
    “Devonport’’ OK, what about the rest of the address? Try again.
    “Um, I can’t remember.’’

    Challenging? Just slightly!

    While she knows our address well now, I’ve created an emergency plan with the crucial name and address on it incase (heaven forbid) she draws a plank under pressure. At least if she forgets her address or struggles reading the words on the plan, she can spell out the letters!

    Here’s a downloadable version of our plan  (with three options depending on your phone) to take your child through the process of:

    1. Finding the phone:

    2. Dialing the number

    3. Pressing the “call” button

    4. Speaking to dad/mum

    5. If dad/mum doesn’t answer, hang up and dial 000 and press “call”.

    6. Then, for those children that can read, having their name and address clearly written.

    Click the image or the links to download a copy of the one relevant to you, print and stick near your phone.

    Emergency with phone number first

    1. With the phone number, then the call button

    Emergency plan with call button first

    2. With the call button, then the phone number

    Emergency plan using coloured dots and programmed numbers
    3. With a coloured dot to signify programmed numbers (you can place coloured dots on the number son your phone).

    Other tips from readers:

    • Place important numbers on speed dial. For example, Dad is 1, Mum 2, Grandma 3, 000 is 4…
    • Again, use speed dial, but replace the number with coloured dots. Use Dad’s favourite colour.
    • Place the coloured dots on the numbers on the phone and pictures of each person on the fridge with their colour next to them.
    • Teach kids to call “triple zero’’, rather than “triple O”. With text messaging so big these days the young are trying to dial “666″ – ie the letter “o” button!
    • When teaching children their address, ask them questions as you’re driving home. For example, “now we’re turning in to our street. Which street do we live in?’’ and count down the houses till you get to your house. “What number do we live at?’’ and “what colour is our house?’’

    Have you taught your child what to do in an emergency? What are your tips?

  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #67: Driving dangerously edition

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #67: Driving dangerously edition

    If you count not dying as a winning week, then yes, we had one of those weeks:

    I won WHAT?

    • We drive out of a car park in Launceston, pull up to the traffic lights and The Bloke in the Shed begins to panic when he can’t figure out if the lights are red or green. At exactly the same moment, we both realise we’re in a one-way street – facing three lanes of oncoming traffic! I’m sure our faces looked like deer caught in a headlight. We are laughing about it now. But can I just say, it wasn’t funny at the time!

    Do you have any traffic stories you’re willing to share? Fess up. We’ve all had them!

    OK, onto some other wins. Just click on the links below to start entering some fab Aussie giveaways.

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     



    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • How to foster a child’s imagination + Pink Poppy giveaway CLOSED

    How to foster a child’s imagination + Pink Poppy giveaway CLOSED

    It’s not uncommon to witness a little person, decked out in full dress up, stomping down the hallway. And you’ve never seen a nearly five-year-old work those heels quite like Ella does. I didn’t even know she had hips!

    It appears Holly is following suit with her love of dress ups. This week she had on a PJ top, trackie pants, a sheep beanie, a pair of bathers, a mermaid outfit and matching mermaid bag – all at once. She thought she looked utterly gorgeous – and that’s all that matters. (Here she is partly dressed in the above mentioned)

     Pink Poppy

    To listen to the stories they create when they’re “made up’’ just reinforces how important it is to foster their imaginations – and capture some hilarious photos for their 18th birthdays.

    Pink Poppy

    Then there were the tea parties. I think the novelty lies in being able to pour water from the sweet little teapot into the dainty tea cups and drink from them. Water mess inside I can deal with. And who can’t resist having these little tea cups, saucers, teapot, sugar bowl and milk jug sitting on the kitchen bench against the kettle.

    Pink Poppy

    For me, it’s been a big educational experience. Like, did you know purple tea is the best kind of tea? That Rebecca* did something naughty at school and had to sit in the corner? That Holly (nearly 2) can’t pour the tea because she’s not big enough (according to nearly five-year-old Ella who is chief tea pourer)?

    tea party

    The latest creative play comes courtesy of Pink Poppy, who supplied us with:

    Pink Poppy

    The beautiful tea set, dainty jewellery box with drawers, old-style bedside clock, snow globe, notepad with mermaid stickers and 

    Pink Poppy

    sweet turquoise mermaid outfit with matching bag,

    Each embraced the mermaid theme. What stands out for me is the quality of the products, how beautifully designed they are and how they’re all traditional toys that fully developing the girls’ imaginations. More importantly, the girls haven’t tired of them, like they do so many of their “gadget’’ toys.

    The site allows you to search by “theme” (buzzy bee, dancing, dinosaur, dragon, ladybug and more), making it easy. The real issue is choosing what theme and THEN what products! To learn more about Pink Poppy visit the blog, Twitter and Facebook.

    We’re giving away the entire collection for your little people to foster their imaginations. To win, simply tell us: what is your child’s favourite game using their imagination?

    Terms and conditions: The Pink Poppy competition will be judged on creativity and originality. The competition opens Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 1pm AEST and closes on Monday, October 1, 2012 at 7.30pm AEST. One entry per person. Australian entries only. There is one prize winner. The winner will be notified via email and name published here. Entries remain the property of Three Li’l Princesses and may be republished.

    If you would like to learn about more of our giveaways, make sure you sign up to our eNewsletters. You’ll also find more giveaways in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup.

    DISCLAIMER: I received all the item above to try with the girls. I have not been paid to write this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

    *Not her real name

    ENTRIES NOW CLOSED

  • How do you make pancakes? (Pancake recipe)

    How do you make pancakes? (Pancake recipe)

    Every Thursday morning, we have pancakes for morning tea. When I say pancakes, I mean Australian pancakes, like what your grandmother used to make – flat and crepe-like. Or maybe that was just my grandmother.

    how to make pancakes

    This morning, I decided to put up a photo of Li’l Holly spreading her pancakes with jam and our (very basic) pancake recipe:

    1 cup of plain flour
    1 cup of milk
    1 egg

    When we don’t have eggs, we replace the egg with one mashed banana. Surprisingly, it works! We then top them with lemon and sugar. Although, being minus lemons this morning, we went for jam.

    Underneath the photo, I asked: how do you make your pancakes? Here were some of the responses:

    Amanda: 2 Cups SR Flour, 1/2 Cup Sugar, 2 eggs, a splash of vanilla and about 2 Cups of Milk. They come out more like pikelets, but that’s the way we like them.

    Katrina: as above, but minus the sugar and add lemon juice!!!

    Alison: I use SR flour – we like them fluffy and high. I add grated apple and they are so moist and yum.

    @KatrinaHigham: I am married to a chef. Ours get complicated with egg whites and baking powder. We do sugar, flour, eggs, milk, baking powder and salt. #fluffy

    @GoodGoogs: I add sugar. Does no one else add sugar? We are a maple syrup, lemon and cream kind of family.

    @MattJForbes1: Try putting some buttermilk, replace 25% of the milk! Sugar is a must!! Or honey!

    So, the question is, how do you make YOUR pancakes?

    Read more recipes.

  • What it feels like to be a mother

    What it feels like to be a mother

    Women go through all gamut of emotions when they enter motherhood. I thought I’d share some of the strange and wonderful feelings I’ve experienced during the past five-odd years.

    Feelings of a mother

    That feeling you get when you `do it’ for the first time without protection when deciding to start a family.
    That feeling you get when you’re still doing it eight months later with no result.

    That feeling you get when you feel your child kick inside you for the first time.
    That feeling you get when you realise it’s somehow got to come out yet.

    That feeling you get when your baby finally crowns. Um… ouch.
    That feeling you get when you hold your child for the first time.

    That feeling you get when your child says their first word.
    That feeling you get when your child just won’t stop talking.

    That feeling you get when your child heads off for their first day of school.
    That feeling you get when school holidays arrive.

    That feeling you get when your child draws a masterpiece on their bedroom wall.
    That feeling you get when your child puts their arms around you and says “I love you’’.

    This is just an overview of some of the feelings I’ve had during the past five years. Li’l Holly is about to turn two and Princess Ella is about to turn five. As @dufussy tweeted this week: “the days are long, but the years are short’’.

    What are the standout feelings from your time as a mum?

  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #66: Winning edition

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #66: Winning edition

    Toddler playing dress ups

    It’s been a winning week here – literally:

    • Let’s start with the above photo, shall we? I’ll post more on Li’l Holly’s obsession with dressing up soon (along with a giveaway), but let’s just say no one sports a pyjama top and bathers quite like this nearly two year old. A fashion win? (And I have no idea what she’s doing with her face!).
    • The Bloke in The Shed went to the PANPA (Pacific Area Newspapers Publishers’ Association) Awards in Sydney during the week. For those who don’t know, it’s a big deal for newspapers. His newspaper scored a win and three highly commended awards from a mammoth seven nominations. Before flying home, he was wetting the men’s urinal at the Sydney airport when he realised he’d left the award in security. A quick dash back and he found the bomb squad about to pounce onto the shoebox with the award. Now that’s how to get your awards story from page 7 to page 1!
    • The girls spent yesterday morning struggling to contain their emotions at the thought of Julian arriving home. At the airport, you’d swear Justin Beiber was about to disembark the plane. Actually, let’s make that Jeff Wiggle.

    Do you children love dress ups? Do they prefer your clothes, a mix of their own or traditional dress ups?

    OK, onto some other wins. Just click on the links below to start entering some fab Aussie giveaways.

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:

    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     




    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses