Do You Know A Child With Special Needs?

Kristen Morrison, author of Naturally Better and co-founder of the Grow Foundation, is a woman who never seems to stop. Ever. She's tireless in her quest for making life better. 
 
She's played a pivotal role in bringing a unique not-for-profit organisation to Australia this June for the first time, to present a life-changing course for parents of children with special needs.

Children with Developmental Delay, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Down syndrome are just some of those who will benefit.

Methods discussed in this course will empower parents to help their own children to achieve improvements in mobility, development, speech and wellbeing. 


June 17th to June 21st, 2013
The Bayview On The Park Hotel
52 Queens Road
Melbourne

For more information please email to growfoundation@gmail.com

Just Back From Melbourne

We're literally just back from three days in beautiful Melbourne. Fresh. Off. The. Plane. 

Actually - not fresh - Sydney - why so humid?!

I am so pooped - but so on the high that comes with travel. 

And damn fool. I do very much love that city. So much left unexplored, with verbal agreements that we'll be back soon to try more restaurants, check out the shops that always (inadvertently) get missed, and spend more time at the gallery. Good golly. Did I mention I love Melbourne? 

I'll be back later in the week to report on my Melbourne findings, plus - yes, I am late with Yo Mama! this week. And hey - btw - have you entered my LEGO Friends giveaway? If not, why not! Five ace packs to giveaway! 

It's a busy week - more gift guides to come, and lots of other good things brewing (ok so nothing's brewing except my herbal tea). But I'll be around. And I'd LOVE to hear from you. 

Yours in blogging and late posts, 
Lexi 

Excuse Me. Look Here. Now.

More shots from the Sussan catwalk. Loving the relaxed style suiting. The modern take on the pussybow. And those sequins. I am mad for some sequins. I should have bought a Bedazzler back in the day. But no matter, this charcoal sequinned skirt would make me just as happy. Modern day mermaid for the win.

Sussan, you are very, very clever.

Sussan Summer Sneak Preview (Try Saying That 10 Times Fast)

This last week I had the great joy of flying to Melbourne as a guest of Sussan.

I flew down in the morning, and knew I was on a Sussan flight when I walked up to my gate and discovered a bevy of women all dressed in the new Summer collection. They were excited. I was excited. We were all excited together - and the other guests were none the wiser except for that certain buzz in the air.

We landed in Melbourne and a cab driver walked over to me and asked me if I wanted a cab. He wasn't in his car. And I agreed. And then imagined he was going to kidnap me. So I asked him if he was a real cab driver and he said yes and so all was ok. Phew. Glad we've got that sorted.

During the day I meandered the streets of Melbourne like only a waif could. But more on that later.

That night we went to see a sneak preview of the new Sussan Summer collection. The room was a-buzz, electrified by the 200+ excited women (and one lone man sitting front row- I salute you sir).

If you've not stepped into a Sussan for a spell, the value they place on customer service is exemplary. The staff know the ranges back to front, front to back and upside down.
It's here I should tell you: This was not like fashion week where it's totally not cool to crack a smile.

When the models walked down the catwalk, they smiled. And the crowd? They cheered! It was such a fun evening.

This new collection is fresh, fun, and loaded with bright and bold colour. There is so much to love - so many pieces to covet. As a working-in-an-office mum, Sussan has just made it that much easier to mix and match outfits (which the ladies in store are SO good at), plus there are so many great pieces that are supremely wearable, frocks that you can throw on - or suiting that doesn't look too corporate. I do not do corporate! I do fun! I do colour! I do bold prints and pattern and awesome. Sussan is all that.

I can say all of this because I'm newly converted. And I've been enjoying spending time in their stores being inspired. It's a bold new step - and you have to hand it to the team at Sussan. They're turning the beat around and I'm dancing to it.

I took lots of snaps from the catwalk - an have loads more that I'll be loading on to my Facebook page this week.  

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Sussan paid for my flights and accommodation. I attended their Summer launch. I loved it. I wanted to share.

URGENT DONOR CALL OUT: Breastfeeding Melbourne Mamas

I have removed this post as the family has now been inundated with milk donations and now has a waiting list. Thanks everyone.

Via Naturally Better Kids

Are there any breastfeeding Mamas in Melbourne, Australia who could be part of a milk tree?

URGENT:: Attention Melbourne Manu Lovers

For your immediate attention.

Fascinated? We're Whipping It!

Happy Melbourne Cup punters!

I used to ring my grandmother and put on my very best Shane Dye impersonation. She loved it. Because I am exceptionally talented at doing impersonations (and would like to give Michael Winslow a run for his money). Ok. Just Shane Dye, that's the extent of my impersonations. It's not like if MENSA had a division for voice impersonations I would be in. It's just that my Shane Dye is insurpassable.

So while we're sans fascinator, we are whipping it, but without the crop. We're going old schoolie whipping. It's 38 degrees. Eek. Hawt.

If you ever meet me in person, ask me to do Shane Dye. Then give me a bottle of champagne. Then ask me again.

Do You Love...

Augie March the way I do? If you don't know them, you really should, they are super dooper good. Go on and check them out. They're a cool Melbourne band.


There are lots of good things in Melbourne. The hub of cool. And it's for this very reason that I think I need a trip. A small family holiday. Or even a long weekender. Soon-ish.

Oh - and if you're looking for me, I'm sometimes over here. You should check it out. Perhaps you can help?

Honk If You Love To...

Melbourne is the hub of cool isn't it? I mean, Sydney, yes it's beautiful, we've got a glittering harbour, we've got the Harbour Bridge, we've got big tolls, we've got the Opera House, we've got blondes, blondes, blondes. But when it comes to creative hubs - I think Melbourne.

It was a pleasant surprise to log into my inbox one fine Spring day and find an email that perpetuated this thought.

Tomorrow night there's a new gallery opening. And it's a gallery with a difference - it's also a badge making lounge.

Make your own badges, rent a badge machine, view and buy street art from local and interstate artists or order custom merch like buttons, bumper stickers and ethically made garments.

Bumper stickers? Say what? Seriously cool stuff, huh? I'd make my own 'peep peep if you love pottymouthmama' or something like that. No, I really would. Can you imagine all two of us driving about with those on the bumpers? Yeah ok I need to go back to the drawing board.. Badges. Now there's a great idea. I love badges. If you go, please will you make me a badge?

If you're in the 'hood, go tomorrow night and check it out for me:

Friday 14th November

6pm onwards

Stay Human Gallery
Upstairs, 368 bridge rd, richmond
weds-sat 12-6, stayhuman.com.au

Totally unrelated image of a totally cute rabbit I found on etsy, and then forgot where it was. If you find it, please do let me know. I might need to buy him.

This Is...

This week's theme comes from Flossy-P and is: This is something I got, but still haven't used.

This is my fabric stash. I've got a whole box going on of beautiful pieces. Just waiting for me to learn how to sew. I have a few ideas and really want to start with a very simple quilt for my little bebe, but it's just a matter of getting into it (and getting my sewing machine serviced first!).

So many delightful little bits in here - I LOVE going through it. Lots of pieces were bought on a girls' weekend to Melbourne last year with my sisters and my Mum. We did a pretty good job at getting around town - Amitie, Patchwork on Central Park, Meet Me at Mikes.. Oh it was a fun weekend - if only I didn't get struck down by gastro on the second day. Well I'm looking forward to the next trip!

I have lots of things I have got, but just haven't used. Wedding presents - including a beautiful Jasper Conran vase, some great Ittalla pieces. I think I'm just waiting to move into our own space and bring them out. Luxury every day, mmm, I like it!

'This Is' is hosted by Three Buttons.