Guess who’s coming to the 2013 Mother’s May Lunch!

CheekyBel April 15, 2013 Bel's Blog, Investing in ME, Latest News, What’s On!

Grab your girlfriends and join Belinda & the team from ABB on Friday May 10th at the National Wine Centre as we raise much needed funds for the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation. Enjoy sparkling wine on arrival (bubbles, yum!), followed by a delightful two-course lunch, complimented with tasty Wirra Wirra Wines, all hosted by 5AA’s Belinda Heggen.

This year ABB are a proud partner of the Mother’s May Lunch and as such are offering tickets to join us on the ABB tables for an afternoon of laughter, fun & time to invest back in ME as we celebrate women, and say ‘thank you’ to our mums while helping to raise much needed funds.

I’m sure we’re all touched in one way or another by the wonderful work of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital and look forward to supporting such a valuable cause to help touch thousands of families each year.

In 2013, their very special guests will be:-

Debora Krizak – accomplished performer and published author, born and bred in Adelaide
Mrs Liz Scarce – wife of His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR, Governor of South Australia
Gill Hicks – Adelaide born International hero and inspirational mum, founder of London-based not-for-profit M.A.D for Peace, a motivational speaker, author, curator and trustee for several cultural organizations.

Clinical evidence suggests that creating a child-friendly environment and providing distraction through play and recreation, can not only lower anxiety and pain but also improve recovery rates. This means that through play, recreation and fun, children feel better and get well faster.

The WCH Foundation has set up The Kids FUNd to help the Hospital feel more like home for the child patients at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Gifts from just a few dollars to a few thousand dollars make a big difference to sick kids.

The Kids FUNd works with Hospital staff and play therapists to purchase the things they need to provide entertainment, distraction, play therapy and recreation for sick children. It may be crayons, pencils or art and craft supplies. It could be games and books or a teddy bear to cuddle. It also includes projects like the Pediatric Emergency Department – complete with bright wall graphics and aquarium, to the Nuclear Medicine Department’s special distraction graphics for young patients undergoing procedures.

Tickets for the lunch are $95 each. If you’d like to join us on our ABB tables please email Belinda at belinda@babybargains.com.au to arrange your tickets.

Thanks to Luncheon Partners for their valuable support!

Sesame Street is Coming To Town!

JessDavid April 10, 2013 Latest News, What’s On!

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I can’t wait to take my little ones to see SESAME STREET PRESENTS ELMO’S WORLD TOUR!

ABB has a FAMILY PASS TO GIVE AWAY to one of the Adelaide shows during the July school holidays, so ENTER NOW for your chance to come along too! ♥

http://www.babybargains.com.au/competitions/win-family-passes-to-sesame-street-live-in-concert/

5 winners will receive a Family Pass for 4 People to a show in their capital city (Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane) (valued at $120 each!)

Win 4 Tickets in a Corporate Box to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Adelaide Festival Centre

CheekyBel April 4, 2013 Competitions, Latest News, What’s On!

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You could win a fully hosted Corporate Box for 4 people to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Adelaide Festival Centre, including fully stocked bar and goodie bag for each guest.

Thanks to the Adelaide Festival Centre and Female Friendly, we’re giving away 4 tickets to a fully hosted Corporate Box with a fully stocked bar PLUS a goodie bag for each guest at the 6.30pm performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Tuesday 21st May 2013. Total prize value is $1,160.

For more information and to buy tickets please visit: http://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/chitty-chitty-bang-bang.aspx

Winner will be drawn at the next GIRL’S NIGHT OUT at Wallis Cinemas on Monday 6th May. PLUS, if you’re in the audience at the Girl’s NIght Out & your name gets drawn you will win a bomus $200 CASH!

To enter, simply complete the entry form below and you’re in the running!

ENTER NOW!

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How to keep toddlers and pre-schoolers busy while you work!

CheekyBel March 23, 2013 Mums in Business

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As a mumpreneur, being able to have the flexibility to work from home while spending quality time with my kids is great, though when it comes to actually getting any work done during the day, well that can be a bit more of a challenge.

So how do you keep toddlers and pre-schoolers entertained so you can you get through your work, meet deadlines, make calls and an income? Here are six different types of play that can keep your kids busy and buy you some time to get things done.

1. Imaginative play
Kids love to pretend and role play, and they can be absorbed in their little stories sometimes for hours – giving you a chance to get things done. So to help their little imaginations run wild, keep a box of imaginative play ideas that are themed around things they enjoy.

There are hundreds of ideas that can keep them busy and entertained from astronauts exploring space, pirates sailing the seas hunting for treasure, a jungle safari or superheroes, to mermaids in an underwater garden, fairies in an enchanted forest, tea parties, teddy bear picnics or a business owner running their own mini office.

To make their play even more real and exciting help them with outfits and props, like a big box for a rocket, washing basket with a broom mast and pillow case flag for a pirate ship, or a desk or small table complete with filing trays, paper, pens and envelopes for their office. Whatever the idea is though, you want to make sure it is suited to their age group and easy for them to keep playing independently of you.

2. Adventurous play
One of the best ways to keep kids busy is to keep their play different and exciting. So appeal to their adventurous spirit by having some more active play activities to break up their usual play routine and hold their attention.

Set up a treasure hunt (inside or outside) where they have to find certain objects, help them build a cubby or fort to play in, set-up a ball pit, or an obstacle course (inside or outside) that they have to navigate through – or just play with for younger ones.

3. Quiet play
When you work from home there are times when you need absolute silence, like when you have to make a client call for instance. Though having a one-year-old and three-year-old, you can imagine how many times it is quiet in this house!

Thankfully though there are some activities that can keep them a little quieter while still keeping them busy. Puzzles (large floor puzzles are great – especially if there is a younger sibling who will put small pieces in their mouth), mazes, memory, look-and-find books and shape sorters are all great for keeping little ones occupied, developing their problem solving skills and lowering the noise level.

4. Messy Play
They love it and we hate it for the extra mess, though give them permission to get a little dirty, and they will play for ages. Kids just love playing with messy, slimy and squishy things and can have so much fun doing it. Some ideas include painting, digging in dirt or sand, Play Doh, making mud pies and playing with jelly.

While the intention is for your kids to play independently, keep in mind that messy activities normally require closer supervision so you will want to work close by – just not in the firing line!

5. Outside play
Coming into the summer months it’s great to have your work portable whether it is by laptop, tablet PC or smart phone, so you can set up under the back pergola and let the kids run off some energy outside while you get some work done.

Sprinklers, kiddie pools, sandpits, bubbles, drawing on cement with chalk, balls and other outdoor toys can produce hours of fun and wear them so they will have a nap or at least sleep well that night.

6. Out-and-about play
Sometimes kids need a change of scenery and a break from the usual routine that’s why making your work portable is a must for your own productivity. If they are particularly fussy, unsettled or overly energetic a trip to the park, library or an indoor play centre can be a lifesaver.

What activities keep your kids busy and give you a chance to get work done?

About Amanda

Amanda Jesnoewski is the owner of Velocity Media + Communications and a copywriter and marketing strategist. As a mumpreneur with two small children, Amanda juggles an iPhone and a nappy bag, clients and a toddler, a laptop and a baby, telephones and tantrums daily and writes about at her blog Adventures and Misadventures of a Mummypreneur.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mummypreneur
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mummypreneurs
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/mummypreneur

PRODUCT RECALL NOTICE: Bugaboo Camelon 3

CheekyBel March 23, 2013 Product Recalls

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♥ IMPORTANT RECALL NOTICE ♥
If you have a BUGABOO CAMELEON 3 (purchased between 1/9/2012 and 17/3/2013), please click on the link to read the notice about a recall due to a DEFECT WITH THE CARRY HANDLE.

Serial numbers affected are S/N 190101115300001 to S/N 190105124800215.

http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1046312

Welcome to Australian Baby Bargains, saving you money!

admin January 29, 2013 Bel's Blog, Latest News

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Welcome to Australian Baby Bargains, the only destination you’ll need to sell the gear your little ones have outgrown and grab yourself great deals on pre-loved baby and children’s items.

From our humble beginnings on Facebook, we’ve grown into a thriving online marketplace. We bring Australian parents a high-quality, completely free and (most importantly) local service for buying and selling new and pre-loved baby and children’s items.

It’s virtually effortless to buy and sell your baby and child items here.

Best of all, it’s local—and 100% FREE!

Don’t forget to check out our hugely popular marketplace, our online directory showcasing a selection of amazing businesses we love so much, and the centerpiece of our website, the baby classifieds.

I won’t insult any of us mums by saying that creating a business is like giving birth. If it was, they’d give out epidurals for entrepreneurs. However, there’s always a good story behind every great venture—and here’s mine.

With my own stockpile of baby items to sell, I quickly grew frustrated with listings on online auction sites—paying the fees, waiting for bidders, and failing to sell a lot of the time. I decided there had to be a better, cheaper way to buy and sell these goods. We all know kids grow faster than they can wear out their clothes and toys so I needed to create a solution.

I setup an album on Facebook to promote to my friends and quickly became impatient! My idea then blossomed into the concept of a “fan page” to share with other mums in Australia—and that’s when Adelaide Baby Bargains (ABB) was born.

Word spread fast, and ABB became the buzz around town. With our membership steadily growing and our Facebook page overloaded with listings, we developed a dedicated website to better serve mums. The site was a huge success, and I knew it was time to share Baby Bargains with the rest of Australia.

It’s been a lot of work, but so worth it! We’re finally here and I’m thrilled to introduce you Australian Baby Bargains. Shop locally, or shop across cities! We’ve got thousands of listings of all things babies and kids, and best of all – IT’S FEE FREE!

So, what are you waiting for? Join Australian Baby Bargains today (it won’t cost you a cent) and discover the revolutionary shopping experience that’s taken Adelaide by storm. Like thousands of others, you’ll soon wonder what you ever did without it.

Regards
Belinda Jennings
Founder & CEO

Saving Money, One Nappy Change at a Time!

admin January 29, 2013 Bel's Blog, Environmentally Friendly, Latest News

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Almost one in two working families in Australia live dangerously close to the financial brink and up to 90% feel uncomfortable with their financial position, according to a recent survey by RaboDirect.

Sobering thoughts when you add in the cost of raising a baby to its first birthday. International baby resource, Babycentre, has calculated that bringing up baby for the first 12 months can cost parents up to $16,000!

One of the biggest expenses parents face with their new baby is nappies, with a cost of up to $6000 per child in disposable nappies!

Most new parents don’t give much thought to the cost of nappies before their baby arrives, but once they take their precious little bundle home from the hospital, the weekly expenditure on nappies really starts to bite, especially when the parents may have just dropped from two salaries to one.

Founder of Cushie Tushies and Telstra Business Awards finalist, Catherine Langman, says that more and more parents are turning to modern cloth nappies as a way to save money. Not only can they save you $3000 to $5000, but will also save up to one tonne of rubbish being generated. And that’s per child compared to disposables!

Financial Counselling Australia suggests people should try to treat savings as if it were a regular bill.

Parents-to-be can take this advice one step further and layby their modern cloth nappies whilst still pregnant – that way, once baby arrives and your household income drops, you already have all your nappies for birth to toilet training and your household budget won’t be under as much pressure.

With over 300,000 babies born in Australia every year, there’s a lot of families who could benefit, potentially saving a combined $900million!

For further information about modern cloth nappies or details of the potential savings parents can make using them, please contact Catherine Langman at cath@cushietushies.com.au or visit their website www.cushietushies.com.au

10 Top Tips to Losing Your Baby Weight

admin January 29, 2013 Bel's Blog, Health & Fitness

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Life changes dramatically after we have babies and once you have adjusted to motherhood and managed to get your little one into a routine, many mums focus turns to their post baby body and what the best way is for them to lose some weight.

Firstly, the most important point to note is that no one should ever feel pressure to lose weight and although some mums feel ready to start losing weight a few months after the birth, many are not ready for a year or more after the birth. There is no one size fits all and you should only think about any weight loss when you feel 100% ready to do so – physically and mentally.

If you do decide that you want to lose some weight then it is crucial to do it in a healthy way. This means no crash diets, no drastic weigh loss, no weight loss pills and instead by following a healthy and safe weight loss plan. If you are breastfeeding it is also important to choose a diet plan that offers you a wide range of nutrients and does not cut out food groups of severely restricts calorie intake. Breastfeeding and weight loss is possible – providing you do it in a safe way and aim for approximately 500g – 1kg a week.

So what are our top tips for post pregnancy weight loss?

1) Find a diet plan that suits your lifestyle and be realistic with what you want to achieve and a timeframe which to achieve it

2) If you can breastfeed, this is a great way to give your baby great nutrients and to help you burn fat. Breastfeeding also burns approximately 500 calories a day

3) Swap all white breads, pasta and rice for wholegrain varieties

4) Throw out junk food so you are not tempted to eat it

5) Make sure you are eating good quality and lean protein each time you eat – think lean meats, dairy, nuts, fish, beans and tofu

6) Start to fit in incidental exercise into your day – such as doing some squats when you make a cup of tea

7) Make sure you are drinking enough water to keep your body hydrated and your digestion in good working order

8) Don’t skip meals and try to eat 5-6 times a day

9) Plan ahead so you have healthy foods to hand at all time

10) Increase your fibre which aids digestion and helps you feel fuller for longer

This article was written by Rhian Allen, Founder of Lose Baby Weight.
For more motivation, advice, recipes and safe post baby diet and exercise plans visit www.losebabyweight.com.au and for daily motivation join the Lose Baby Weight Facebook page at www.facebook.com/losebabyweight.com.au

Local Adelaide Success Story Bags a Win at AusMumpreneur Awards

admin January 29, 2013 Bel's Blog, Latest News

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The Bamboo Bubby Bag™ has been named Favourite Product in this year’s Connect2Mums national AusMumpreneur Awards, recognising the best and brightest entrepreneurs in the mumpreneur industry, acknowledging success in business, product development, services and innovation.

Kelly Northey from Bamboo Bubby is proud for her product to be recognised as the Favourite Product for 2012 and was thrilled to accept her award.

Kelly is so pleased that the Bamboo Bubby Bag™, born during a distressing and sleep deprived time has grown quickly in popularity, allowing Bamboo Bubby as a business to thrive. Being recognised with this national award, will enable her to spread word of its benefits further than ever and continue on helping many others with a solution and support through an exhausting, upsetting and quite isolating time.
She loves that the business she’s building gives back to others in the form of both helpful products and support through Bamboo Bubby’s ever growing Facebook and Twitter groups.

Further information about Bamboo Bubby is available at <a href=” www.bamboobubby.com.au” title=”Bamboo Bubby Website” target=”_blank”>www.bamboobubby.com.au</a> where they can be purchased along with a growing range of quality natural and organic skincare, bathtime

and also now daytime products all designed especially for sensitive, eczema babies and toddlers.

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Children's Panadol Recall: 1-5 Years Suspension Recalled for Quality Reasons

by CheekyBel on December 5, 2013 - 0 Comments

Two batches of Children’s Panadol 1–5 years suspension dispatched by GlaxoSmithKline between September and November have been recalled for quality reasons. PRA number: 2013/13888 Date published: 5th December 2013 Product description GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), in consultation with the TGA, is recalling two batches of Children’s Panadol 1-5 years suspension from pharmacies and hospitals as a small proportion of bottles […]
10 Parenting Rules – and I broke them all

by TanPrad on June 11, 2013 - 37 Comments

Confession. I was one self-righteous, know-it-all bitch Before Children [BC]. It’s true. I knew it ALL. Anything wrong with a kid? It’s their mum’s fault. Sometimes their dad’s. But mainly mum… because she CHOSE the dad after all. In my, far from humble, opinion parents were entirely responsible for everything their kids did, thought, said […]
Tim Tam Balls - Recipe of the Month

by CheekyBel on August 9, 2013 - 9 Comments

They’re an Aussie favourite, no matter which way you look at it, you can’t beat a Tim Tam! Quick & easy, this fabulous recipe only needs three ingredients! Makes 22 Large Balls You’ll need: 1 x Packet Tim Tams 1 x 250gm Block Philadelphia Cream Cheese 1 x 375gm Cooking Chocolate (Milk/Dark) Method: Step 1: […]
Win a Britax Strider Compact & Steelcraft Infant Carrier valued at $1,128

by CheekyBel on July 1, 2013 - 1262 Comments

Thanks to our gorgeous friends at Britax & Steelcraft, we’re giving one lucky member a Britax Strider Compact & Steelcraft Infant Carrier. Total value $1,128 Congratulations Rachel M – you’re the lucky winner! Please check your inbox for full details on how to claim your prize! The Britax Strider Compact (RRP $799.00) is more lightweight […]
The Only Teacher's Christmas Gift Guide You'll Need. EVER.

by TanPrad on November 26, 2013 - 1 Comments

Christmas Gift Guide for Teachers Do you have little ones [or big ones!] in school? Have you dropped them off at their class every day and wondered, with awe, how any sane person could choose to spend 6 hours a day with as many as 30 kids at a time? As we get closer to […]