Big Dreams Launches New Online Magazine - And It's Dreamy

this is a sponsored post

When we visited Melbourne at Christmas time, I gathered up some recommendations from friends on great kids shops. I still had some gift shopping to conquer. 

In all of those recommendations Big Dreams kept coming up. Obviously this was a gorgeous store - my friends have impeccable taste. So I swept in there, my jaw dropped (because if you haven't been there, it is beautifully styled and there's so much awesome-ness to drink in) distracted the kids with all the beautiful merchandising, and set to secretly squirrelling bits and pieces away at the counter - those little people of mine were oblivious. 

It was such a great, and memorable shopping experience - the store is filled to the brim with goodness, it was difficult to not go completely crazy (except for the fact my husband was staying within a 3 metre radius of me). 

Happily Big Dreams have launched their brand spanking new magazine for Winter. It's a beautiful edit of pieces available in store (and in their online store). It's the mix of seeing the clothes on real kids, and also the way it's styled - Big Dreams understands kids, and lets them be kids - it's playful, real and big on colour. Just the way I like things. 

Follow Big Dreams on Facebook
Check out the action on Instagram
Shop online here
And download the beautiful magazine here 


* Very occasionally I write sponsored posts. They're only ever about brands/stores I really, really love, and I know you'll love them too. And I am a massive supporter of Australian retailers. Shop local! This is my honest opinion which is why I can blog openly about it. It's rad. I wanted to share. 

Birthday Grand Central

This is a big and beautiful week in our household. In fact, it's a big and busy month! 


On Thursday it's Matt's birthday.
Three days later it's the Doctor's birthday (of course LEGO is top of his wish list). 
Then seven days after that it's my Dad's birthday.
Then four days later it's my sister's birthday.


Full steam ahead.


Tiny is home sick today. Sick. Yes. I use that phrase loosely. She was sent a gift from Moose - Stick-A-Lulus. She's just been sticking Stik-A-Lulu stickers all over the house. All. Over. The. House. They are now approximately everywhere. 


Tiny loves her some mischief. 


The Doctor will be chuffed. He had a hissy fit yesterday - because everyone got something except him (Matt got a lightbulb, I got a pair of socks, and Tiny got some shoes because she only had sandals). He got some Trash Packs. There'll be great joy today after so much stinking six year old emo going on yesterday. 

Holy Cow!

Do you ever think products have been made especially for you? Today Fisher Price sent over a Doodle Bear for Tiny. If there was ever a toy that was destined for Tiny, this is it.

A bear that you can draw on, then pop into the wash, then start all over again? Genius. Tiny had to reconfirm a number of times that she could indeed draw on this bear. Yes. Yes. And only this bear. Not the others.

Doodle Bear better be made tough, because Doodle Bear has a lot of doodling ahead of it.

Great diversionary tactics while I clean her drawings off the: sofa. Coffee table. Wall. Her legs. Bills. Bedside table. Fridge. Clothes. Floor. Kitchen bench. Oh heck, I'll just be cleaning everything. Hopefully not anymore. WOOT!

Soft Toys For Little Girls & Boys: Japan

I've been giving the collection of soft toys some more thought - and I'm going to do it properly.

Before I spoke to Jac yesterday, I knew I really wanted to help those affected in Japan. After speaking with Jac, it gave me that direction of how we can make a tangible difference together. And it might seem like it's been natural disaster, after natural disaster, and you might be suffering from charity fatigue, but we can make a small contribution to help in this traumatic time.

And then I chatted to my sister today - and she's offered Calico & Ivy (Balmain AND Perth) as a drop off point for anyone interested in sending a soft toy to Japan.

And then Amy at Badskirt has very generously committed to donating some of her beautiful creations. 12 to be exact. 12 beautiful softies to wing their way to Japan.

So this is the plan. You can donate new and/or handmade soft toys. If you would like help making your own soft toy to donate - the girls at Calico & Ivy are available to help you. They are creative geniuses, Sarah, Amy and Donna, and by proxy, so will you be!

If you would like to donate and help give a small child in Japan some comfort, you can send your soft toys to:

Calico & Ivy
10 Birchgrove Road
Balmain, NSW 2041

Calico & Ivy

10 Glyde Street

Mosman Park, WA 6012

image via Amy at Badskirt

Coveting

I will try and talk less Lego soon, promise, but right now, it's become a household obsession.

After we bought the Doctor's Lego the other day, Tiny and I went to a cafe where the guy there was enquiring about our Lego purchase. He wanted a look, so we showed him the box and set to jive-talking. Whatever jive-talking is. Cafe Man told me how much he LOVED Lego and then showed me his pendant - a heart made of Lego blocks. Pretty darn cool. And he also mentioned rings that Lego had made. So I came home and hit Google to find said rings. Et voila! You can mix them up with different blocks - my favourite are the flowers. They're not new (from what I see, they were released circa 2007) - but new to me.

Lego makes parenting super duper fun. It's something for the Doctor and I to enjoy together (except I'm always being instructed what to make and how to make it. Yes boss!).

I found them via Like Cool.

Think Of Me Tomorrow

For tomorrow friends, I am facing something every parent dreads. The Toy Sale.

I wouldn't ordinarily be this brave. But I am facing up to my fears tomorrow as my sweet little Doctor has been saving really hard for a really long time to buy some Lego.

Tomorrow, not only will I be throwing my body amongst the hoardes of bargain-hungry parents, but I will also be carrying the Doctor's money box with me, and counting out every single one of those sweet hard-earned coins with him. I suggest if you see us, don't line up behind us, we'll be there for a while. Well that's if we ever make it to the counter. Wish us luck.

By the way - did you ever see James May's Lego House from BBC? Amazing. Incredible. I love clever people.

Word To Yo Mothers

Thankfully it has stopped raining in Sydney. Who knows for how long, so I've tossed the small fry outside to work out the surplus energy. A mad exercising frenzy. Because it's probably going to bucket down any moment now and then they'll once more reform into Thing One and Thing Two. Or Chocolate Thunder.

Anyhoo, today I have a wee giveaway to share. Three punters can share the spoils - a small Theodore and Simon softie each.

Alvin & the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel is coming out on DVD. To celebrate Toys 'R Us are hosting an activity day at every store on June 5.

All you have to do to enter is tell me something that rhymes with chipmunk.

Back:: Recharged & Ready to Conquer

Last night I had the good fortune of a night in a hotel. By. My. Self. I was lucky enough to be invited by Pampers to enjoy the Perfect Night's Sleep.

If you're a long time reader of PMM you are already well versed in the latest bad string of broken night's we've been experiencing and the utter exhaustion that seems to have descended upon our home. If you're new, in short, this last two-three weeks has stunk on the sleeping front.

After a night out meeting some ace new people, and learning some tips from the geniuses that are Tresillian, I feel recharged and ready to tackle pretty well anything that might be thrown at me (except fire batons - don't throw those at me).

I came home to my two littlies who were happily playing. I packed lunch like there was no tomorrow. Seriously, a sleep by yourself is definitely underrated. It feels so luxurious!

What's your ultimate luxury?

PS - I'd quite like that luxury up there - Princess and the Pea by Maileg via Toy Boutique.

(An Incredible and Yet) True Story

For weeks now I've been finding piles of sand at our front door and wondering where they are coming from. At first, I thought it was just stray sand that had made its way back from the beach to our house in clothes, shoes or sand toys. I swept it up and continued with my day.

However, the next day, another small pile of sand would have taken its place. I swept it up again thinking that perhaps after all it was a small creature that was setting up home near our front door, making its own sandy mansion (a la Cleopatra) and nesting. I swept it up and continued with my day.

And then we come to today. Today is when I had an incredible epiphany. And remember folks, this is a true story. Brace yourselves for the truth is about to unfold.

I discovered where this sand pile was coming from.

Not from cheeky sand sneaking home from the beach. Oh no.

Not a sneaky little ant or bug of some sort setting up digs. Oh no.

Would you believe it came from this vicious (door) snake (well not this one because this one is not mine - mine is just boring, but this one, this one is cute)? This snake has been spilling sand all over my freshly swept floors and it's only taken me more than a couple of weeks to discover this. Sherlock Holmes I am not, Steve Irwin I am not. Homestyle detective buster, yes. Yes I am.

Dear Matt, book me in for my lobotomy pronto. x

Have You Seen Teddy Boombastic?

As a continuation of ugly July we've now lost the Doctor's very favourite bear - Teddy Boombastic. He was given to the Doctor by my Dad. Four years ago. He's well loved and goes everywhere, Christopher Robin stylie, a boy and his beloved bear.

I've looked everywhere, turned the house upside down, the car inside out, questioned the Doctor (who keeps pointing the finger at Tiny and saying she's hidden it from him).

I've called all the shops, I can't even remember if Teddy came with us, but I'm just calling anyway. Blindly. No joy.

I've called the makers - Tomfoolery - nope, no cigar. They discontinued 'Albert' a while ago (why, why teddy bear makers? Is it to prematurely age weary parents?).

Would you believe - above is the only shot I can find of my little Christopher Robin with his bear? What a bad mummy.

If anyone has seen Tomfoolery 'Albert' in a shop - I've already been told I have Buckley's of finding one, please let me know. I am desperate.

In a bid to end ugly July.
Yours,
PMM x

Magical March: Day 16

Do you feel as though I am copping out, and anything that happens in my day is magical now to fit into my Magical March? Yes. Me too. But you're going to have to deal with it, awright, because for now these small things are going to have to make do for being magical. Magical or non.

When the Doctor returns from pre-school today he's totes going to be stoked because he and I have been on a man-hunt searching high and low for vintage Fisher Price Little People. We drove all around our neighbourhood last Saturday searching, searching - there were NO GARAGE SALES within a 10km radius (ok, ok we didn't really trawl that far), so we wound up three suburbs over. lThis garage sale, though highly organised, did not do it for the Doctor. There was not one skerrick of children's paraphernalia. Bummer dudes.

With my hands thrown skywards I went global. If only I could just pop on to my private jet, but nope, eBay it was. And eBay is where we scored the fruits of our search.

Guess what arrived in the post today?

Like I said, the Doctor is totes going to be stoked.

Aye Aye Tailor!*

Tonight I learnt how to tailor tack. Do you know how to tailor tack? Clearly, my life was lacking, I was in wont, and now my life is fulfilled. I know how to tailor tack. Go me!

This is it. My top in progress. Looks like just a bit of fabric? Well - look closer and you can see my mean overlocking! Look even closer and you can see my tailor tacking AND pins for the pleats. Wow - it was a big night for me. I wasn't meant to overlock - but I snuck on anyway, given it's my favourite part!

And look what followed me home. This Fisher Price puppy walker thing. I'm going to give it a bath with some nice disinfectant and Tiny can try it out.

AND - I promised a shot of my colourful flowers. They're still not potted. Tomorrow, once the Doctor returns from pre-school perhaps?

* PottyMouthMama supplies all puns free of charge. She will never charge you for a pun. Not once. Enjoy them. As many as you like. She's bound to load at least one into each post.

Kiddie Craft:: The Ultimate Ice Cube Tutorial

Like I said in my previous post, ice cubes are good. While anyone reading in the Northern Hemisphere might be able to walk outside and collect a handful of ice, we're relying on the freezer to do its magic. Here's a foolproof way to keep the smalls interested in bath time.

What you need:

- plastic containers (don't use any rigid plastic, as it cracks when the water expands - did you ever expect to learn anything by visiting my blog? No? Well, you did today. Surprised us both)

- plastic animals, or any small toys that are ok to be frozen (here I'm using some wild circus animals that perform stunts willy nilly around our kitchen)

- water

- optional: food colouring

1. Place animal (or small toy) into the plastic container.

2. Fill with water.

3. If you feel the need, you can add food colouring. This adds another dimension to this exercise. But you don't have to. Water au naturel is just as good.

4. Pop into the freezer. Leave until frozen rock-solid (at least a few hours).

5. Once frozen (and it's bath time, or ice cube play time) take out of freezer. We pop them into the bath and let the melting good times begin.

Here at PottyMouthMama, we know how to party.

The End.