threelilprincesses.com

Author: Kellie O’Brien

  • FEATURE: Top eight infant books and how they’re affecting your child

    FEATURE: Top eight infant books and how they’re affecting your child

    THE O’Brien house is filled with books. Every room has a book or bookshelf of some sort. There’s even a book over there in the middle of the kitchen floor at the moment (must pick that up in a minute).

    Now that Ella is three, she’s looking for more advanced stories. She likes her big thick book of fairytales (Jack and the Beanstalk is her fave) and her Winnie the Pooh chapter book. It’s meant the rule of three or four books at bedtime has had to be cut to one or two, otherwise we’d be reading ‘til midnight.

    Despite Ella becoming a “big girl’’ and wanting to take over the reading role (more on that in a later post), we’re discovering all those baby books Ella so loved once again through Baby Holly.

    Following on from Top 10 Aussie kids TV shows and how they’re affecting your child, here’s my list for Top eight infant books:

    1. Where is the Green Sheep? – For some time Ella believed my blue knitting yarn came from a blue sheep, the green from a green sheep, the red from a red sheep etc. Hmm.
    2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar – If you eat a lollypop, ice cream cone, chocolate cake and cherry pie you may just turn into a beautiful butterfly. Sorry darling, try hippopotamus.
    3. Dear Zoo – Learnt she can have a camel as a pet, if she so wishes. However, it’s likely to be just as grumpy as mum. Mum, on the other hand, scored the cute little puppy dog. Or was that the naughty monkey?
    4. Dr Seuss series – Apart from speaking in rhymes and riddles (if she wasn’t already) she has, on one occasion, requested green eggs for dinner. I refrained from getting out the food colouring.
    5. Peepo – Mickey Mouse existed in the olden days, but didn’t quite look as shiny as he does on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (check out the toy box in the kitchen).
    6. Spot (the dog) series – If you’ve lost something, it’s more than likely hiding under a flap.
    7. My First Book of Nursery Songs (illustrated by the rather talented Trace Moroney) – Her mum is one damn fine singer. OK, maybe not! But we can dream, can’t we?
    8. Each Peach Pear Plum – There’s no need to panic if her baby sister’s cradle gets shot out of a tree and she ends up drifting down a river.

    So, what books are the top reads in your house? Is there a book you suggest we introduce Baby Holly to?

  • WIN: Cadootje giveaway winner announced

    THE winner of the Cadootje baby gift set giveaway, which included a gorgeous pair of Sokshus, a Baby Bib and Bottle Warmer was:

    …..Rachel from Because I Said So.

    Rachel has scored for her li’l smiling tiger, some Sokshus, which won’t slide off little tootsies, a cute, stain resistant, silicone Baby Bib which can be washed in the dishwasher and a Bottle Warmer, which allows you to warm up bub’s bottle or food without electricity or heavy thermal flasks. The products were sourced from Make My Day, which sells everything from kitchen gifts to items for the bar.

    If you’re in northern Tassie, make sure you drop in and say hi to Al at Cadootje, located at 27 David St, Newstead. If you can’t quite get there, make sure you visit her Facebook page. Also, check out the Make My Day blog and Because I Said So’s blog – both great reads.

    Read more about these products here.

  • FEATURE: Our kids give us a sign

    FEATURE: Our kids give us a sign

    THIS post could easily turn into one of those brag sessions about your kids. God, don’t you hate those parents? The ones who go on about all the wonderful things their child can do, while yours is sitting there scratching their bum?

    However, this one has to be told because, if anything, it just proves how incredible these little sponges are and why we shouldn’t underestimate what they’re capable of learning.

    Princess Ella is three and, thanks to child care, has learnt skills she couldn’t learn at home – basically because her mum just ain’t that clever! Sure, I could have taught her to click her fingers and whistle, but it’s not something I imagined she could do at age three. But she can, because of her childcarer.

    However, what’s blown me away most is her learning a new language. Sign language. And I’m not talking about flipping the bird – that’s still a few years away.  It’s strange to have her teaching me how to do something and then responding with: “Good girl, Mum. That’s really wonderful. You’re doing a great job’’. Patronising, or what?

    Speaking to other mums about this via Facebook, it seems they all agree that if their child has a good grasp of the English language, why not allow them to learn another language. Ella picked up a little Spanish from, dare I say it, Dora the Explorer.  One mum admitted her daughter became so good at her “Dora-led’’ Spanish, she became extremely agitated when her mum tried to explain the colour was “blue’’, when clearly it was “azul’’.

    To end this post, here’s a video of Ella teaching me to sign. Bear in mind, she’s a three year old and, just as she keeps strangely pronouncing “hot poppin’ popcorn’’ as “hotta hotta popcorn’’, she may well be getting some of these slightly incorrect (`how are you?’ and `good, thank you’ look a little too similar). She also wasn’t in the most cooperative mood this morning, so it’s only a small taste of what she’s learnt. I’ll try and upload more of her signing later.

    If you want to learn to sign or teach your child, then visit the Auslan site.

    OK, you now have permission to brag. Has your child grasped a second language? Or do they have a skill you never imagined they could do at their age?

  • MEDIA: How to get your press release past the newsroom door

    MEDIA: How to get your press release past the newsroom door

    EACH newsroom receives up to 500 emails a day and not even 50 of these see the light of day. Chiefs of staff spend the first part of their morning culling that list to find the gems and get rid of the spam. This is where your email can easily be deleted.

    Here are some tips to avoid this happening to you and get your release inside the newsroom:

    • First, pitch to your local media (newspapers, radio, magazine, TV and even blogs and podcasters). Local media love championing their local success stories.
    • Figure out where you want your story to be told – ie, in the news pages, lifestyle pages, afternoon radio segment, TV morning show – and familiarise yourself with that vehicle.
    • Pitch to the relevant person, or your story could get lost. Are you looking at it being a news item (then ask for the chief of staff or, even better, a specific news reporter) or on the afternoon drive program (ask for the radio announcer).
    • Phoning directly is the best option, but avoid timing it with their deadline. Ask for their direct email address to send the release to and try to get their direct phone number too.
    • Media organisations are more accessible than ever, thanks to their increased use of social media. So if phoning has you curling into the foetal position, consider contacting the organisation via Facebook or Twitter. Bear in mind, in some instances this isn’t as effective as phoning.
    • Take time to customise your release to each media outlet on your list so they’re receiving exactly what they’re interested in and personalise your address to them (which also includes spelling their name correctly).
    • Send off the release immediately. Don’t wait until the next day or week. If possible, make sure you’re giving them plenty of time – either before morning conference where much of the direction for the day is made or days in advance (but don’t forget to include an “embargo’’ if needed).
    • Always follow up with the same person if you don’t hear back from them. Chiefs of staff and reporters sometimes get sidetracked with other stories. It’s not to say they’re not interested in the story you’re pitching, it’s just there’s so much else to follow on any given day.
    • Nobody likes to be pushed into things. So just offer up the story, politely give a reminder if you haven’t heard anything and, if all else fails, work on the next media outlet. If it doesn’t get picked up, don’t be offended. Sometimes it just comes down to timing.
    • Building a relationship with the reporter, announcer or presenter is important. This means next time you have a release, you have someone to go to. In turn, when that reporter needs a story in your niche, they’re more likely to contact you.

    If you’re unsure how to put together a press release, check out the step by step guide to writing a press release and example of a press release. Then you’re ready to write a press release that gets noticed. If you’ve already put together your release, then what are you waiting for? Time to make that call!

    If you would like to know when the next tutorial in the Media Room is posted, don’t forget to “like’’ us on Facebook. Next week we tackle: How to survive the interview.

  • He Said She Said: It’s not a fashion parade. Or is it?

    He Said She Said: It’s not a fashion parade. Or is it?

    Mum's version of Ella

    SHE SAID:
    PRINCESS Ella walked out wearing purple sneakers, pink cow socks, red shorts, a paint-stained yellow t-shirt and a brown peaked cap. Dressed by Daddy. Of course.
    She was set for a day out with her dad. Well, not looking like that, you’re not! As expected, Julian throws back at me: “It’s not a fashion parade’’.
    It’s after such a statement that I’m compelled to want to steer the bloke in The Shed in the direction of our full-length bedroom mirrors. What would he see? Hair that’s cut every five weeks to the day, a pair of Oakleys resting atop a stylish black Nike cap, Quicksilver t-shirt, two-month-old shorts and another new pair of white sneakers (which look exactly like the other 12 pairs in his wardrobe).
    Sorry, but when Ella leaves the house I want her to look respectable, not like some scrubber from the Bronx. No offense, J-Lo. You just never know when the next European prince will fall in love with a Tasmanian.
    It must be noted that after a major tantrum (from Ella and the bloke in The Shed), Ella was promptly changed into more “appropriate’’ clothing. It was incredible to see an instant change in the way she presented herself – from sitting with her legs spread and belly hanging out to walking like a lady and giggling with hands clasped over her li’l mouth. Awww. Now tell me that’s not cute.
    Now, I’m not advocating dressing our kids like Suri Cruise. There’s something wrong about preschoolers in high heels and designer coats. However, I do want to see hair done (not scruffy mops of knots) and clothes co-ordinated (sorry, but the Punky Brewster look went out of style in the ‘80s). Mum has spoken. Enough said.

    Dad's version of Ella

    HE SAID:
    I ask you, what in the world is wrong with a brown hat, a yellow top, red shorts, hot pink socks and purple shoes?
    Exactly. Nothing.
    Yet when I was about to walk out the door having dressed Princess Ella in said attire, the look on my good wife’s face was as if I’d dumped Ella in a bucket of tar, ripped open a doona and dumped it on her head.
    “She is not going out with those clothes on,’’ was the scream from Kel. Stunned, Ella and I looked at Kel like she’d just slapped us across the face with a frozen fish.
    Ella and I looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders. “Why not,’’ we thought (but did dare not utter).
    Ella was happy. She was comfy and her track record suggested she’d get the clothes so dirty we’d be changing them again in an hour anyway. I was happy. I grabbed the first clothes I could from the pile of washing within arm’s reach and managed to get Ella completely dressed without spilling a drop of my coffee. Ella and I were going to watch a pet parade, not a fashion show, what did we care how we looked?
    Well, obviously we’d missed a chapter in the “How to Keep Mum Happy” Handbook. As far as mum was concerned there was going to be other people we knew at the event and therefore Ella had to look “respectable” (even though Ella’s natural attire at home is a fairy dress, no undies – from not being bothered enough to put them back on after going to the toilet – and a Dora Explorer t-shirt).
    No, it was clear. Apparently I could “inadvertently” teach Ella how to pick her nose or show her the joys of the “pull my finger” game, but dare I dress her in red shorts for a day out in public then it is grounds for divorce. I didn’t even buy her the red shorts. Kellie did.

    So, is it important how your kids look when in public? Share your opinion on this  He Said She Said.

    Also, Julian said he’d pay you if you voted for him in the Top 25 Daddy Blogs at Circle of Moms. Mind you, he said the same thing if I’d agree to marry him.

  • RECIPE: Veggie soup

    RECIPE: Veggie soup

    Veggie soup

    WE’RE learning the fine art of sharing in our house. So when the dreaded lurgy made its way into our home, we all went down like dominoes.

    After filling ourselves to the brim with smoothies (complete with bug-fighting foods yoghurt, cinnamon, honey and berries), hubby Julian tempted us further with one more food boost courtesy of this yummy veggie soup. I’m happy to report the lurgy has now left the building.

    Veggie Soup

    Ingredients (serves lots)

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large brown onion, chopped
    • 3 garlic cloves, crushed or chopped finely
    • 6 shortcut rindless bacon rashers or shaved/sliced leg ham, chopped
    • 1 medium zucchini, chopped
    • 1 medium carrot, peeled, chopped
    • 12 button mushrooms, sliced finely
    • I head of broccoli, cut into small florets
    • 1 can of Cannelloni beans, rinsed well
    • 800g can diced tomatoes
    • 1 litre vegie stock + extra water (2-3 cups)
    • 2 cups of small spiral pasta
    • Mixed herbs or Italian herb to taste.
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Method

    1. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and bacon. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes until is softened and bacon is browned.
    2. Add zucchini, carrot, celery and broccoli. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
    3. Add tomato, stock and 2-3 cups cold water. Cover. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low.
    4. Add sliced mushies and beans. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until vegetables are just tender.
    5. Add pasta. Season with herbs,. salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until pasta is tender.
    6. Serve with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and some hot garlic bread.

    How do you beat a cold? Any tips as winter approaches?