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Category: Life and laughter

Fabulous gift ideas for a one-year-old girl’s birthday

The Birthday Girl.

AFTER finally figuring out what to buy a girl for her first birthday, I thought I would share a small sample of the gifts Holly ended up with. Thanks for all the suggestions. They meant I didn’t have to think – always a bonus. With Christmas coming, hopefully they’ll inspire you. In the meantime, I’ve now got to come up with another list of presents.

Bracelet

The bracelet. Still to be engraved.

A keepsake for her. We’ll engrave her name and date of birth. You know, just incase she forgets it. In all honesty, I still have the bracelet I received about the same age. In fact, I even have photos of me wearing it. This is one to treasure.

Guess How Much I Love You Pop-Up book

So in love with this book – as is someone else!

Keeping fingers away is the big challenge.

More fingers…

The last page in the book, where the whole page is part of the pop-up.

And then as you pull down the bottom flap, Big Nutbrown Hare bends down and kisses Little Nutbrown Hare.

This is seriously the most gorgeous book. And that last page is too cute. I got this one out of the library when Ella was small and she had no real interest in it. Which was a shame, because I loved it. However, add some pop ups and interactive elements and this is now among the girls’ favourites. As long as I can keep their little hands away.

Add it to your shopping cart.

Fisher Price zoo

Lots of noises with this one. Thankfully, not irritating.

There are lots of noises with this one. Open the gate and it plays a song or a lion roars. Let the monkey swing across the branch and when he hits the bananas a monkey noise is made. Holly can now roar like a lion, brrr like an elephant and moo like a cow. I know, there are no cows at the zoo. Just thought you’d like to know though.

Finger Puppet Nursery Rhymes, illustrated by Annie Kubler

Nursery rhymes just got even more fun!

The Baa Baa Black Sheep puppet

Nursery rhymes have also been a big thing in this house. We sing. We sing a lot. Just call us the von Trapp family. In fact, I’m in the process of uploading some singing for your listening pleasure in the next month. I know, brace yourselves. We have more nursery rhyme books than I care to count. But we’ve never had one with finger puppets until now. Too much fun really. It also has a puzzle at the back. Bonus.

Does your family love to sing? What are your favourite songs?

NB: Please note, some links are affiliates. This means if you click the link and choose to become a customer of the business, I may receive a commission in the future. This doesn’t affect what you pay.

October 20, 2011
Alphabet Photography Challenge – W

W is for Wedding. Oh where could that W be?

By Fiona Lumsdaine

I’m a mum, and an artist. I’ve been shooting weddings and portraits (and corporate and editorial photographs) professionally since July 2009. But my love of photography began when I was a nine-year-old girl helping my Dad out in our darkroom. I’ve rarely been without a camera around my neck since.

Learn more about Fiona’s photography at Lumsdaine Photography or connect with her on Facebook.

If you would like to contribute a photo to the Alphabet Photography Challenge, a series of posts aimed at being a “look and find” activity for children learning the alphabet, please email.

Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys’ Wordless Wednesday. Click on the link to check out more photo posts.

October 19, 2011
How to make a Princess Castle Birthday Cake – just hours before the party

It’s fair to say she was pretty impressed!

IF YOU’RE friends with me on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll know I’m not half proud of my last-minute Princess Castle Birthday Cake whipped up for Baby Holly’s first birthday on Saturday.

It started badly when I ran out of eggs to cook the cakes on Friday. Thankfully, it was The Bloke in The Shed to the rescue that night and before bedtime I’d managed three cakes. The next morning, again with a little help from The Bloke in The Shed’s rolling pin skills, we’d finally assembled and decorated the castle well before the afternoon party.

I must give credit to the Donna Hay Kids’ Magazine for the inspiration for the castle

and my trusty Women’s Weekly Kids’ Perfect Party Book for the cake recipe (although, I’ve made just a few tweaks).

Here’s how to make it:

NEED:

CAKE:

2 2/3 cups self raising flour

1 cup cocoa powder

250g butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 ½ cups caster sugar

4 eggs

1 1/3 cup water

CASTLE:

1 cake board

3 x cakes (as per above)

4 large ice cream cones

4 small ice cream cones

100g white chocolate, melted

5 x 500 g packets store-bought ready-to-roll icing

2 x 300g jam rolls

Pink food colouring

Large white and pink marshmallows, to decorate

METHOD:

CAKE:

Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Grease and line 2 x 21cm round by 3cm deep tin + 26 x 21 cm rectangle tin.

Place flour and cocoa into medium bowl, add remaining ingredients. Beat on low with electric mixer until combined, then increase to medium and beat for 3 minutes.

Spread evenly into three pans and bake for 35-40 minutes or until cooked.

CASTLE:

Place rectangle cake onto a cake board.

Knead 2 packets of icing on a clean surface until soft, then roll out between 2 sheets of non-stick baking paper to 3mm thick.

Use the baking paper to lift the icing over the rectangle cake. Trim excess and smooth out any corners, creases etc.

Place two circle cakes onto top of the iced rectangle cake. Knead another packet of icing and roll. Cover the two round cakes with the icing.

Cut the 2 jam rolls into halves. Repeat with another 2 packets of icing and cover all 4 pieces of jam roll. Place the rolls at the corners of the rectangle cake, on the board.

Make sugar syrup to brush over the cake for a glossy effect. We used one part sugar to two parts water and boiled for five minutes. Then brushed on with a cooking brush.

Add pink colouring to leftover pieces of icing and knead in until the colour is even. Roll and then cut into various shapes. We used a large heart cutter for the top of the cake and smaller hearts for the top. Medium-sized hearts were used for the windows in the tower and front of the castle. One section of the large heart cutter was used to create the shape for a door and indents were made with a knife to create door handles and “two doors’’. Each should stick onto the sugar syrup coating. If not, stick with melted white chocolate.

Melt the white chocolate, dip the 4 large ice cream cones into the chocolate and then press into the tops of the 4 jam rolls. Place 4 small ice cream cones on top of the large cones.

Decorate with fairies (or princesses) and marshmallows around the edge of the board.

Do you have a favourite birthday cookbook?

For more birthday inspiration, try…

How to make a Princess tiara birthday cake in two hours

How to keep guests happy at a one-year-old’s birthday party – birthday party food ideas

Free downloadable birthday party invitation

Fabulous gifts for a one-year-old girl’s birthday

Gift ideas for kids – girls

Please note: Some links are affiliate links. This means if you choose to buy from the company in the future, I may receive a commission. This doesn’t impact how much you’re charged.

October 17, 2011
Thanks for the mammaries, Mum: how to introduce cow’s milk to a one-year-old
Holly making herself a drink in her big sister's kitchen.

MY WEAPONS of mass lactation look more like shrinking violets after a year of being sucked dry by Baby Holly. It’s the signal for her to transition from one old cow (me) onto a new cow (shiny plastic bottle in the fridge). Yes, goodbye free boobie juice.

That’s not to say I’m giving up breastfeeding just yet. We’ll be milking it for a while longer – pardon the pun. However, it is time to introduce the “other white milk’’ – aka, cow’s milk.

So far, it’s been a slow process. The first couple of times Holly wasn’t going to have a bar of not having her usual mid morning bazookas. She sprayed the cow’s milky goodness all over my face. Take that, Mum. This is despite having had cow’s milk on her cereal each morning for a while now.

Yesterday, I recalled a trick I used when Ella was weaning and put the warmed milk into a baby bottle instead of her sippy cup. It worked. She’s now on the road to saying goodbye to the best milk dispenser she’ll ever have. Ah yes, thanks for the mammaries, Mum.

Here are some other things I know about introducing cow’s milk to a one-year-old:
- They're also good for chewing on!
  
  Introduce it gradually. What worked with Ella was dropping one feed per week. This has multiple benefits – your “girls’’ have time to adjust, it prevents them becoming engorged and the child’s tummy gradually becomes used to the richer cow’s milk.
- If they refuse the milk, try giving it to them in a different cup or bottle. Although, our aim is to get Holly back onto her cup as soon as possible. But whatever works to start with.
- Give your child pasteurised full-fat cow’s milk until aged two, by which stage they can go onto reduced fat milk.
- We warm the milk in a container of hot water so it’s closer to the temperature of breast milk.
- Offer the milk AFTER meals as cow’s milk is quite filling and could lead to a lesser amount of solids consumed.
- There are lots of other ways to help your child meet their calcium intake requirements, including cheese, yoghurt, baked beans and tinned salmon. Variety is key.
- Some children may be lactose intolerant. It’s best to see an expert if this is the case.
- **UPDATE**: Have just seen the child health nurse this morning and she suggested giving Holly the milk straight from a glass. If she refuses, take it away and try again the next time.
I’m no expert, so if you want to learn more, I’d suggest you check out Milk Intake on the Huggies website or the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

What are your tips for introducing cow’s milk to a one year old?

Linking up Shae from Yay for Home’s Things I Know.
October 14, 2011
Office gossip coming to a screen near you

THE other night on my personal Facebook page there was a bit of harmless office gossip going on. It was actually more a bit of fun than gossip, because it was instigated by the person the gossip was about.

As the conversation grew, so did the inclusion of ex workmates – me included. It ended up being more like an online reunion. During the conversation, I added the comment: “Ah, I so miss office gossip. Ella whispers secrets in my ear, but they’re nowhere near as interesting!’’

It got me thinking. While I wouldn’t change what I’m doing now for all the world (although going through the height of sickness this week did have me questioning it once or twice), some days I miss the banter that goes on in the office. The: “Did you hear she’s leaving?’’, “Did you see the size of that engagement ring?’’ or “Did you know he had a love child stashed away?’’ Oh sorry, that was Kyle Sandilands. Wrong office.

Don’t get me wrong, I have some incredible Mum PR clients who I speak to regularly on the phone or via Skype. And because we’re all sleep and conversation deprived mums, we do tend to natter a little longer than the usual office coffee break. So in that respect, I’m pretty blessed.

Really though, can anything compared to conversations like this one with Ella yesterday after hearing an ambulance siren down town?

Ella: “Quick Mum, let’s follow and find out what’s happening’’.

Me: “It’s OK darling, we don’t need to follow them today.’’

Ella (pulling out her pretend phone); “Yes, hello? I’m on my iPhone. I thought you might like to know I heard eee-awwws. Yes, we’re on our way. To your stations.’’

Yes, she’ll always be the daughter of an Editor and someone who watches way too much Octanauts.

Do you miss the (harmless) office gossip now you’re a stay-at-home or work-at-home mum? Or is there something about your old workplace you miss more?

October 13, 2011
Alphabet Photography Challenge – O

Lisa Wood’s fourth boy enjoys the ocean. He used to be so scared of the water, but this year learnt to swim. Can you see where he’s hidden the O?

By Lisa of New life on the Road

As a mum to five boys, I love taking the time to capture our boys – sometimes smiling, sometimes thinking, and sometimes not so happy! We love exploring the big wide world of Australia and getting out and about. Our boys are so full of energy and love adventure.

You can learn more about Lisa, her family and travel adventures at New Life on the Road or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

If you would like to contribute a photo to the Alphabet Photography Challenge, a series of posts aimed at being a “look and find” activity for children learning the alphabet, please email. There are now only a few letters remaining.

Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys’ Wordless Wednesday. Click on the link to check out more photo posts

October 12, 2011