Would They Notice?

Once we finally offload Nibbles de Boing Boing, do you think the kids would notice if I swapped him for this?

via the ever lustworthy Kido Store

The Princess & the Frog

I will be upfront and tell you that I'm not really into Princess movies unless they're set in Jane Austen's era, and they struggle through some hardships, fall in mud, have to eat gruel and aren't kissing frogs.

However, I had heard a great deal about Disney's The Princess & the Frog. And when I was given the chance to view the DVD ahead of launch, I jumped at the chance. It's the first time Disney have cast an African-American princess. It also heralds a return to the old-school style of animation, which I can totally get with. It's also set in 1920s New Orleans. And Oprah is in it (can I stop banging on about the big O?).

I had another motive for wanting to watch it. The Doctor had seen the promotional material when it came out at the cinemas and been loudly sprouting off about the fact that 'Tiny will like it because it's a girl's movie' - not sure where he gets these gender-stereotyping ideas, but they're certainly not from me.

I've watched it with the Doctor. It does have some dark moments. It does paint the lead 'Tiana' in a difficult light (she works hard, she's got smarts, she's not easily moved), and it does paint the blonde as a stereotypical princess - but hooorah! Hooorah! It illustrates that there is good and bad in everyone. There's lightness and darkness. But he was rapt.

I've even watched it with my 33 year old husband. I caught him laughing at times. In particular at two secondary characters - Louis the trumpet playing alligator who wants, wants, wants to be a human and to 'play with the big boys'; and Ray the little firefly.

Overall I think The Princess & the Frog is an enjoyable watch for the whole family. The Doctor liked it, even though there were some scary spirits flying about (even I thought they were a bit creepy) and it will be re-watched again. And again. And again.

Have you seen it?

The Princess & the Frog is out on DVD June 16.

I have not been compensated for this review.

Hey - High Five!

It's all about the high five for me right now.

When things are a bit bleak, it's nice to look up. In Autumn one of my favourite things to do is look up at those tree branches, some of them changing for the season, some of them almost bare, but all reaching up.

The high five, for me, is the equivalent of looking up.

It's ridiculous.

It's silly.

It's quaintly funny.

I high five like it's no tomorrow.

This weekend is my first at home nesting in my new abode. I am digging the space.

I think we're taking Nibbles de Boing Boing back too. Hopefully it's not too manic.

I'm hoping to bake too.

And we have to have take two of Matt's birthday. So maybe a birthday cake is on the cards.

But anyway, this weather, it's charming. It's idyllic. It's the best weather for snuggling. I love listening to the rain on the roof. It's in my top five.

I would give you some links to something awesome to tide you over but I don't have internet access to even do that.

But you can always visit me over at MumSpace. I'd quite like that.

Yes. This was an incredibly random post. The end.

image is from...er.. somewhere. can't remember where.

Pets Are...

I was always brought up that pets are for life.

I had a cat who I adored. Adored. He was the best cat that ever lived. I still get a bit teary when I think of him. He was an awesome cat. He was more person than cat. I love cats.

I also had a rabbit Flossy. She had babies. Oh how I adored them. When they died I was sad too. I had chickens too. And they went missing. I was sad then too.

So when we bought Nibbles de Boing Boing we thought that he was going to be with us for a long time.

Handbag and high heel eating aside, Nibbles de Boing Boing has been a very, very bad boy.

Despite having him desexed as an attempt to neutralise his menacing behaviour, he's still psycho bunbun.

He growls.

He bites. And draws blood.

He scratches at you if you go near him.

If I only had two words to describe him I'd call him: plum loco.

After much discussion, to-ing and fro-ing, we decided that regardless of the vets advice we could give him monthly shots of progesteron (the pregnancy hormone) that we would take him back to the breeder. We were feeling no love for him after he attacked us countless times.

You might be thinking - but he's a bunny, surely he's harmless, well try telling that to my handbag. Oh I mean headphones. Oh woops, slipped again, the smalls have been bitten and attacked by him so many times that he's almost due for a muzzle. He's mental.

This weekend we're returning him to the country. And that's no code word for the green needle. He really is going back to the breeder who has agreed he sounds a wee bit psycho and that sometimes bunnies can be a little loopy.

I still feel sad. He's a beautiful boy. Superficially. Just personality wise he's lacking. And keeps on attacking.

Have you ever had to return a pet to sender?

Happy Birthday Dad!

Hey - Hats Cool!

I did my millinery course over the weekend. Seriously, when it rains it pours. Right now it's bucketing down in Sydney, but I wasn't referring to that.

In one week we:

- moved house

- caught up with a good friend from London

- celebrated Matt's birthday

- celebrated the Doctor's birthday

- I went to my millinery course

Sheesh. And then there are other weeks I am so bored with myself it kills me!

Anyway, if anyone in Sydney is looking for an excellent millinery course for beginners, Jane Stoddart is amazing. She is one of those naturally talented people who is more than happy to share her wealth of knowledge. I loved this course, and left on Sunday afternoon on a high. We learnt so much about couture techniques in millinery, and I am itching to head back to learn more. I'll share some shots of my hats in progress in the next few days. I am pretty darn excited by them!

image is of course from Jane's website

I Came Back To Tell You...

I am madly blogging from my old house because the infamous Telstra have taken 13 days to connect our home phone after a virtual version of telephone ping-pong whereby they ask if the previous tenants have disconnected blahblahblah, elongated, add a few more terse phone conversations, a few Twitter exchanges et voila. We have phone line. But no interwebs.

But I'm here ever so briefly to let you know I am alive. Even though we've been sleeping on a futon base. With a cot mattress. And two couch cushions. Not terribly comfortable. Not terribly conducive to a good night's sleep. For seven nights. On Wednesday I will be a new woman because we're getting a new bed, and I'm feeling ever-so-excited by this notion! High five!

I should be back online in the virtual world real soon. It's been chaos - moving on Matt's birthday, the Doctor's birthday shortly after. But we're moved peeps! And it's ace.

Say hi to your dog.

Supreme Talent

I had a hectic day today picking up keys, getting my very first parking ticket (parking inspector I shake my fist at you!), and sitting opposite someone on the train eating boiled eggs and making me want to vomit in my mouth with each of his/her (I couldn't tell) boiled egg burp.

I'm serious. It should be a crime to eat eggs in public because I do not like it. I don't like the second-hand egg smell. And third-hand egg burp. Oh man, that just makes me want to vom a little more.

Other than that, I came home to something supremely divine that someone supremely talented has made. See that bear up there. Oh man, he is seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen. Jess (supremely talented and supremely humble) has made little Donut. He makes my heart melt. For realz, if it's even possible, this little dude is even cuter IRL (that's geek-speak for In Real Life). I bought him for a friend. But I might want to keep him.

I've told you about Jess at Teddy Bear's Wednesday before. I'm telling you again. She's one smart cookie.

Jess I hope you don't mind, I used one of your images without your permission.

Continue to Squeeze

There were some things I neglected to mention in my previous post. Such as the importance of doing your pelvic floor exercises correctly. If you cheat, then you reap no benefit and you might as well chew bubblegum and drink soda pop for all your pelvic floor is going to garner from this effort.

I found this link, but if you think you might have a problem, do seek help, because accidental wees ARE avoidable. You CAN do something about it. There IS someone who can help you. And unfortunately it will not get better without toning those muscles.

When I first started going to the physio I rated a measly 19 on the squeeze-o-meter. The target squeeze is 30. Is this TMI? Too bad, that's what carrying two babes in my belly did.

And as Jodi from Che & Fidel pointed out, mamas who have caesareans are not out of the woods either, those muscles stretch from carrying around those big babies in bellies.

So everyone, mama or not a mama, use it or lose it!

I've included a clip for your pelvic floor motivation. Here's something to inspire you.



And before I zoom off to bed, Mama Mogantosh has been celebrating with streamers, pinatas and margaritas the Week O'Mamas. Head on over there to read about all sorts of mamas, including me. But don't mistake my head as the pinata, ok?

Toodles!

Stigma:: Number 2

Ages ago I said I'd write about subjects that have stigmas growing all over them. I've been avoiding them myself. These stigmas, they're shunted into the corner and left to thrive with other stigmas sprouting all over them. I've dragged this one out into the sunshine. Hosed it down, given it a scrub, dried it, and now here it is. Especially, sparkly and delightful, for you to enjoy.

You can cover your ears, look away, sing loudly, whatever you like, but here it is - I'm never going to run around and desert you.

During my pregnancy with Tiny, in the latter stages, I noticed a wee bit of.. er.. wee. A little bit leaky if you will. So during a meeting with my midwife I told her. I had visions of the above happening to me.

She referred me to a physiotherapist, and I was scheduled for some appointments. And boy was I in for a surprise. I never knew physiotherapists dealt with such matters as weak pelvic floors. Lucky them!

My physiotherapist had a, I'm not sure what it's actually called, but I guess it looks a.. It looks like a dildo ok?

Yep. That was a surprise. Surprise PMM! Look what I have here.

Let's fast forward because:

a) this was a wee bit humiliating

b) my parents are reading this

c) I don't wish to revisit this series of appointments whereby the physiotherapist gauged my pelvic floor muscle condition by squeeeeeeezing the probe.

Needless to say, exercising your pelvic floor is important for both men and women.

I won't go on with any medical jargon (because I have none), but I do know after my sessions that exercising your pelvic floor is integral to not weeing all over the floor. And for after hours interludes. And for your own self-esteem. And for childbirth.

Regardless of whether you've had a baby or not, but particularly if you have given birth, those muscles are streeetched and need tightening pronto!

After my first physio session I set my alarm clock on my phone four times a day to remind me to exercise. This was known by rote in my family. Even my Dad would say 'PMM time for pelvic floor exercises.'

I don't do my exercises while I am driving because I can't focus on either thing. I need to be doing something such as folding washing, or watching TV, that doesn't require another part of my brain.

Anyway - ladies, if this post acts as a reminder, I will be chuffed, because the world around us will not only enjoy stronger pelvic floors, but it will not be flooded by wee. And that my friends is a good thing. Yes?

As is the mantra in the totally ace film 'Away We Go' - 'don't reach for another bagel, do another Kegel'.

There ends my first stigma post. I have more up my sleeve. Promise.

Today I Am Ridiculously Excited!

Gather 'round friends, everybody get close, listen up, I want to yell something out. From the rooftops, into everyone's chimneys, sneak up behind people, I have something to share.

We are moving house next week.

Right at this moment I am feeling so giddy with excitement. I have butterflies fluttering about in my stomach. I can't stop thinking about where everything's going to go (and fit) in our new digs.

And it doesn't really matter, because for the very first time in our marriage, in our history as parents, we're going to have our very own home to call our own.

This is big peeps. I feel so damn excited.

This may or not be the house. If it's not, I am ok, it's probably really dusty and the lawnmowing would take us weeks. Here ends today's blog post.

The Big Surprise!

One of the highlights of my Sunday was discovering that my husband of almost five years can cook crepes. And I mean he can really cook crepes. Paper thin delicious, amazing, buttery, incredible crepes.

This is huge! HUGE! Matt always claims he can cook, but in the years we've been together he's only demonstrated:

- toasted sandwiches

- pizzas

- Spinach pie (with my direction)

- microwave fish (which made me dry wretch when I was pregnant with the Doctor - sorry Matt, it's true)

Paper-thin pancakes can mean only one thing.

Now every Sunday Matt is chef-ing it with his pancakes. I've put in a request for Bills hotcakes next week!

Beach:: Boom Fo' Realz!

I'm sure we're all acquainted with the fact that yesterday was Mother's Day. I clocked up a 6:45am sleep-in. Ahem.

We spent the morning at Balmoral. Sprawled out on a piece of lawn and a patch of sand. Despite the fact that it's May, it felt like Summer almost, and I was wearing a pair of jeans. Wrong!

But we had an awesome morning. The Doctor and I hatched our cunning beach plan earlier in the week, so it was a highly anticipated more-than-a-moment.

We built another Dino World, enjoyed fish & chips together, and just lolled about in that magnificent Autumn sun.

Mama, or not-a-Mama, what did you get up to?

An Interview:: My Mum

It's Mother's Day today. I thought who better to talk to about being a Mum than my own Mum.

She didn't actually want to do it, I forced her. Sorry Mum. Sometimes mums have to do things they think suck. Like sitting in doorways to block night wandering toddlers. Like cleaning up vomit (high five me!). Like cleaning the toilet (oh yeah baby). Without further ado, I introduce my Mum, we like to call her Triscals.

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What's the best part about being a Mum?

Holding my babies and marvelling at the miracle; watching them grow up with lots of treasured memories, and now receiving the most wonderful unconditional love and care from them.

What's the worst part?

The worst part was when they started to leave home on the next stage of their 'journey' - a most gut wrenching, sad yet happy time. I mourned before they left and after!

Did you ever want a refund?

NEVER EVER EVER.

Having three girls must have been an, ahem, handful?

Only when you had to jump into swimming pools to fish PMM out or having to nag Choccy and Anna to come home before dark... hardly 'handful' problems though.

Do you remember celebrating Mother's Day with your babies? What made it special?

Reflections of wonderful home made cards, the lovingly wrapped (and sometimes made) gift and the wonderful breaky in bed with flowers on the tray!

What's one of your most memorable moments as a Mum?

Anna bringing home the Hungerbeasts - what craziness!!!

Choccy as a little tot - every meal time spilling her water.

PMM all dressed up and going trick or treating with her school friends.

The girls phoning me at work to say that the cat was having kittens on the back lawn and the cat didn't seem to know what to do!

Three most beautiful brides, gorgeous husbands, and absolutely splendiferous weddings; the arrivals of seven most fabulous little people (ok so that goes into the grandmother file).

These are just a few of my favourite things!

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I can barely believe I am uploading this photo to share. I am the completely dorky one in the Jonathon Sceats uber massive glasses that look like owl eyes. Uh huh. Awesome. Er thanks Dad for scanning that beauty for me.

Thanks Triscals! Happy Mother's Day!

Hats Lucky

Would you believe another hat in Paris? That's right - hats in Paris (get it, get it?!).

Matt and I were in a department store, I think it was Printemps (because I am sure you care right now, but this is for posterity people!).

This hat, alas, did not come home with me. It was yellow fur. YELLOW FUR! I do not suit yellow fur. If I was blonde and babe-a-licious I might suit yellow fur. However, I am not.I put this hat on as a joke to scare Matt. It worked. I scared Matt. We took a few stealth photos before any sales people could come and hijack our photos. Seriously. We were in peels of laughter. They were fast approaching, and I was quickly, quick as a flash self-portraitising. We are probably the funniest people in the world. Well I am.. Matt, he's not funny. I am definitely the funny one.

Please ignore my wonky nostril. Maybe I am going to get some nose hair clippers for Mother's Day? Gosh, a girl can dream can't she?

Hats Ridiculous (Get It? No Joke Too Tired Here!)

As promised, here starts the massive expose on my hat collection. Or my hat lust.

Let's call it hat lust.

The hat on me is my very, very favourite. Probably because as well as being cute, Matt and I bought it in Paris when the Doctor was the Bean and he was in my belly. We didn't have much money, but I knew I had to have something that would always remind me of Paris and this special time in the City of Lurve together. I love this hat so much. It was the perfect antidote to the Paris grey of November.

The Doctor is wearing a green Kangol beret that is another beloved hat of mine.

Hats I have loved.

The reason for the spots. I can't quite remember. But they may have transformed us into magical clowns.

Hats Incredible (Get it?)

Have I ever mentioned I really love hats? Chapeaus of the world unite. I love you! I doff my cap to you.

I have a small, and yet, ever growing collection of hats. Over the next few weeks I will share them because they are cute and they deserve it.

I've not yet mentioned that in a few weeks I am doing a short millinery course. I am tres excited! I've been collecting inspiration. Here are some of my beloved. Coco. Anna Piaggi. 'nuff said.

Big Jumps!

I love this cute clip. It's full of sunshine.

Thanks for all your kind comments. You know how to make a gal loved. I'm ok. I just need more of the normal. The normal quiet. And a few big jumps too.

A Long Way From Home

I think I'm going through a difficult stage of parenting, and when I really think of it, I think it's come down to a few factors and not the smalls, not me, it's life. We're looking to move, I'm looking for more work, Matt's looking for a new job, we're looking to mix things up, and because of this, our usual routine and calm has been thrown to the winds. We're all a little tattered and windswept and we need to shelter together. The four of us.

I sat in Tiny's doorway tonight to keep her in bed. I'm tired of disciplining her bedtimes. She won't sleep during the day. Night times are drawn out. She's in a filthy mood. I'm in an even filthier mood. I'm weary of the tug o' war. Yes I know it will pass, but it's right in this minute it's all too much and I just need a big fat phat break.

I'm going to pare things back a little. I'm going to simplify in this crazy time. They have to be. It's what the littlies need and it's what I need. If I'm here a little more intermittently, you'll know why. I'm fine, I'm just not phine-a-licious.

Have you felt this way in your parenting history? What's the cure? Tell me. I need it.

Tiny Style Tips

We're overdue for some Tiny style tips. Tiny's big on style. Her own personal style. She's like the Diana Vreeland of toddlers. Today she's dishing out beauty tips.

When choosing lip gloss it's best to go for a shade that depicts your mood. Emo it is then!

Once you've chosen a shade then you're up to applying the gloss. Always, always go for the more is more mantra.

That way it won't rub off too quickly when you're hoovering up all the popcorn and freshly baked cake. In fact, if you have a lot of gloss on, then chances are the crumbs will get stuck in the gloss and you'll have some stuck on your lips for laterz. Seriously - this is epicurean beauty tips at their best.

For ultra-beauty, make sure you get your mitts on some contraband - try some face cream, and slather it all over your feet. Once that has been all used, then move onto the cleanser. There's nothing wrong with cleansing AFTER moisturising. You'll have really soft, clean feet. So clean you could eat off them.

Oh and if you get sick of your gloss, just wipe your face on the bed, couch, or whatever is handy - maybe your Mum's jeans?

'til next time, this is Tiny de Bouvier signing off.

Do you think Tiny could write some style tips for primped?

Thigh Slap!

This is my post to alleviate my guilt factor turned up to ten.

If I've not replied to your comment, I promise I have good intentions, but with parenting, wifeing, working, houseworking, and thigh slapping, I hardly have any time to floss my teeth let alone reply to all emails. But if you have your email as the reply thing, then I can easily flick you an email and you won't feel unloved. I do read and enjoy every single comment (unless you're calling me an ugly old troll and then I just hit delete because I HAVE THE POWER!). My inbox it runneth over. I am doing my best to clear the backlog but sometimes my best is not good enough! (which movie, which movie??)

Secondly, ricotta gnocchi recipe. I was meant to email it, I never did. I am sorry! Here it is. Print it, roll around on it, do anything you want to it. It's out there and I've done it. Sorry it wasn't sooner!

Ricotta Gnocchi

500g good quality ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
100g plain (all-purpose) flour
1 quantity tomato pesto (will type up in a minute too!)
butter & grated parmesan cheese to serve

If you are serving these with tomato pesto, make sure it is ready before you cook the gnocchi.

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Mix together the ricotta, parmesan, flour and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. With lightly floured hands, roll out the dough into thin sausages (about 1.5cm thick). Try to avoid adding extra flour or your gnocchi will be tough. Cut with a sharp knife into little dumplings about 2cm long.

Drop the gnocchi into the boiling water and cook for about 45 seconds until they float to the surface. As they bob up, lift them out with a slotted spoon and put them into warm serving bowls. If you need to, stir a couple of tablespoons of the cooking water through the pesto to give a good coating consistency, and spoon a dollop over each serve. Add a little butter and grated parmesan and serve at once.

Serves 4.

Tomato Pesto

100ml olive oil
2 garlic cloves, peeled
400g tinned diced tomatoes
25g basil leaves, torn
3 tablespoons pine nuts
30g parmesane cheese, grated

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a saucepan with one of the garlic cloves. When it sizzles, add the tomato and season with salt. Simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes until the tomato thickens and becomes smooth, curhsing it up with a wooden spoon from time to time.

Finely chop the other garlic clove and put it in a small processor or blender with the basil leaves and pine nuts. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the remaining olive oil and the parmesan and pulse just long enough to combine. Stire into the tomato sauce and heat for about 20-30 seconds. Fish out the whole garlic clove before serving.
Note: if you are making the tomato pesto in advance, keep the pesto separate and add to the heated tomato sauce just before serving.

Serves 4.
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Both recipes are from Tessa Kiros' 'Apples for Jam'.

That is all on my guilt list. For now.

Stop! It's Thrifty Time

On Saturday, when I was meant to be packing more stuff away and tidying our abode, I snuck off to a flea market as only true flea marketing warriors would do. Warrior? Why warrior? Well my husband was grumpy, but due to the fact I was grumpier, I won and escaped the throes of house chores and ran away for 1/2 hour to join the thrifty circus.

I gave myself a budget of $10. And I stuck to it.

In amongst some other stuff I scored, I got these three pretty plates to add to my collection.

And those bromeliads? I bought a bunch of those for 10 tiny dollars too. Ok so I went over budget. But not by much. Just double or nothing folks, double or nothing!

How was your weekend? Anything to report?

Come join me on Facebook too. I set up a Facebook page today. It's fresh and precious.