General - Nightwolf's Den

Farewell

On Wednesday we farewelled my Grandmother. She was 96 years old.

This was taken at her 90th birthday.

We knew this was coming as she had been getting frailer and frailer. When mum suggested we visit last week I’m glad we did. Hubby, Miss K & I went to visit her last Friday afternoon. She passed shortly after we left.

My cousin did her funeral and it was lovely. Exactly what she would have wanted. And then we all got together as a family afterwards. It was great catching up with cousins even though it was a sad occasion.

Mother’s Day ideas

Mother’s Day is upon us again (yup, its this coming Sunday, 13th May) and I thought I’d share with you some of the great ideas I’d found while looking for ideas.

It’s probably a little to late for this lot, but maybe next year.

1. Moments with Mum journal 2. Mother Daughter necklace 3. Mother Daughter necklace 4. Memory Book

Things to print or make

1. What I want for Mother’s Day 2. A handmade journal 3. Fingerprint pendant 4. Fabric Scrap magnets
5. Fingerprint canvas 6. Bath fizzies 7. Framed print 8. Mother’s Day printable cards

I’m making cards this year. These are my inspiration,

1. for the Mum’s 2. From Miss K

I’ll be back after Mother’s Day with what we gave my Mum & MIL (& what Miss K bought me)

What are you doing for your mum?

Around the Wolf’s Den

What with Digital Parents Conference, Easter and my Blogoversary (have you entered my final giveaway yet?) I’ve been neglecting a couple of posts I had committed to write. So I thought I’d share a few of the products I’ve been sent to review lately (plus there’s a giveaway to enter too)

The fun Jelly Bean sandals of our (well my) youth are back and just as popular with the little people as ever. Miss K was rather excited when I picked these up from the Post Office and wanted to wear right away. They are one of her ‘go to’ pairs of shoes at the moment and has even been known to put them on before heading to bed!They are available in sizes for little people in blue, pink or clear AND big people in black, blue, red, pink and clear.

We’ve also be using the Boxy Design lunch set. It’s a backpack, compartment lunchbox, drink bottle and freezer gel pack. The set is $78 but I think it’s work the cost. The gel pack and lunchbox fit in a insulated compartment in the bottom of the backpack keeping kids lunch separate from everything else. There’s a smaller compartment on top for frequently accessed things and a long pocket at the back for paper and books. The lunchbox comes with two smaller spill proof containers for snacks or things like yoghurt (the lunchbox even comes with a spoon) and the two larger containers so sandwiches and fruit are kept separate and don’t need extra wrapping. It’s also dishwasher safe & BPA Free (as is the drink bottle). We’ve used it a couple of times when out and about and it’s been pretty good. Haven’t tried sandwiches yet. It should last Miss K till she starts school and hopefully through primary school.

Swimming in winter? In Tasmania? Only in an indoor or heated pool right? Well if your child is suited up in a Heatseeker wetsuit they could. Miss K loves to swim and has been a real water baby since she was really small. Last year she was disappointed to not be able to go swimming during winter, this year she can. Mind you I don’t think I’ll be joining her unless the pool is heated. This great set has kept her warmer than her other rashie type swimmers and the separate pieces mean the suit will hopefully last her a bit longer. Love the fact that Heatseeker is an Australian company too!

Now, onto a giveaway….
I have a pair of Jelly Bean sandals to give away. Enter with the Rafflecopter below (there may also be a pair in my blogoversary final giveaway too, just saying)
Open to Australian residents only. Closes 8/5/12

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lest we forget

I asked hubby to do a post today cause what I’m sharing is about his family. He declined, cause he’s like that 😉 His Grandfather served in WWII in the Pacific after narrowly missing out on serving in Africa (which was considered lucky as the company he would have been with ended up as POWs)

(that’s Frank on the left – the short one… hubby’s family are mainly a short lot)

The following poem is written about hubby’s Grandad Frank by one of the men who served with him. We have no idea who wrote it (it would be awesome if we could find this out one day… any suggestions of how we could possibly go about this?)

Frankie

Now Frankie is a quiet chap,
Not the kind that chatter.
He dos’nt care for Ingleburn,
But what the hell’s that matter.
There’s one thing about Frankie,
At which I’ve often laughed,
He’s half his mind on Home Leave,
The other half on Draft.
He loves his wife,
As I do mine,
And I bet she thinks he’s swell,
It’s cruel that he’s away from home
But perhaps it’s just as well.
And when the war is ended
As end all wars must
All we will see of Frankie
Will be a cloud of dust.
He will have to go to beat me,
To catch a Southern Train,
But if he does we’ll meet I hope,
In Launceston again.

Author: Unknown

and now some tunes for your viewing pleasure (the second always brings me to tears)

Ella’s Kitchen

While in Melbourne we attended the Kids Business Bloggers BBQ where I met and networked with some great brands. One of these brands was Ella’s Kitchen.

Ella’s Kitchen was set up in the UK by Ella’s Dad, Paul as he thought his daughter and other children ‘should have the opportunity to eat better food and also to discover that healthy food can be fun, tasty and cool.’ They have a variety of products including 100% fruit Smoothie Fruits, Stage 1 Baby Foods, Stage 2 Baby Foods and Baby Brekkie.

Miss K is at the stage where she prefers whole foods but we decided to try her out on the smoothies. She loves them, especially the Red One (100% strawberries, raspberries, apples + bananas with a dash of lemon juice). I’ve tried them and they aren’t bad. I can imagine adding them to milk to make a yummo milk smoothie or to some yoghurt. Hmmmm.

We haven’t tried the food pouch yet but I know we’ll be buying more of the Red One Smoothie Fruits.

Ella’s Kitchen 100% organic pouches are popping on shelves across Australia in Coles from 26th March 2012.

Our Melbourne Adventure – Pt 4

Sunday we got up and headed to the Zoo. I love Melbourne Zoo. I have fond memories of watching the ring tailed lemurs for hours and hanging out in the butterfly house. It’s changed a little bit since my last visit – more ‘open’ enclosures and more animals. Miss K loved the seals and the ‘big kitties’ and loved going on the vintage carousel. I had not one, but two! butterflies land on me, the first time ever.

Sunday evening we caught up with some of my relatives before heading back to the hotel.
Monday saw us catch the train and bus out to Hawthorns training ground at Waverly Park then out to Chadstone Shopping Centre. OMG this place is HUGE. When we last visited it was still being renovated so there was a heap of new shops to visit including the Build-A-Bear Workshop. Miss K got to build a bear (well cat) from scratch sort of. You pick your ‘skin’ then you can add a sound or record your voice, stuff it, ‘shower’ it (with air), pick clothes for it and finally name it. We built a orange tabby & called her Tabitha.

Tuesday was our final day in Melbourne 🙁 we just got up and ready then headed to the airport. Miss K was excited to be heading home and actually sat in her seat on the plane the entire trip.

I’m glad to be home but looking forward to our next trip!!

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Thanks to my amazing sponsors for Digital Parents Conference 2012 – FollowMe Sticker, Belkin Australia, Bella’s Blooms and George Town IT

Want to see your business featured on my blog? Please check out my Sponsor page to see if I’m looking for sponsorship.

Our Melbourne Adventure Pt 3

Saturday morning saw us wake to overcast weather but it was still pretty warm. After checking out Google Maps we decided to walk down to Albert Park to the Powerhouse Convention Centre for the Kids Business Bloggers BBQ.

I’ve never been to any of the Kids Business Blogger Brunches so was wasn’t sure what to expect. We arrived at the site to be greeted by a Britz Campervan. Those things are amazing and I think hubby would love to hire one for a bit of a family trip around Tassie.

If you’ve never been to a Kids Business Blogger’s brunch/bbq before it’s a great chance to network with other bloggers and brands. We spent the morning networking with some awesome brands including Target, Britz Campervans, Cottees, Crayola, Ella’s Kitchen, Fressure Foods, Lenard’s Chicken (I am so bummed they aren’t in Tassie), McCormick, Nads and Microsoft Hotmail & Skydrive. We left a little early as Miss K was getting restless and we had a date with the Melbourne Aquarium.

Hubby & I had never been to the aquarium and were looking forward to it. Miss K was just excited to go on a ‘funny bus’ – her name for the trains and see the fishies.

The first thing we saw were the King penguins & Gentoo penguins. OMG they are so cute. Miss K loved them especially the one that kept following her.

Won’t bore you with chatter but will share some pictures. The only thing that wasn’t a huge hit was the walk through tunnel. Which is of course where the sharks & rays were 🙁

Back tomorrow with our Zoo trip and our last 2 days in Melbourne.

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Thanks to my amazing sponsors for Digital Parents Conference 2012 – FollowMe Sticker, Belkin Australia, Bella’s Blooms and George Town IT

Want to see your business featured on my blog? Please check out my Sponsor page to see if I’m looking for sponsorship.

Our Melbourne adventure (pt 1)

Originally the plan was for us to go to Melbourne for the weekend and I’d attend the digital parents Conference and we’d come home on the Sunday. We sat down and had a thought about and thought about what we’d like to do and decided to make it a bit longer holiday for the whole family. And it was miss K’s first plane trip.

As per usual for me I had all the details planned and packing lists created using a couple of useful apps (but that’s another post) so we were all set when it came time to leave on the Thursday.

I was pretty much all packed and ready to go on Tuesday night! Wednesday saw us catching up on a few last minute things including the hairdresser for me, dropping off our car to get fixed & doing my nails.

After the usual morning routine, Mum picked us up & we headed off to the airport. Miss K had a lovely time watching the planes come in and leave. Our flight ended up being delayed by about 20 mins but it was no biggie.
So all was good up until we got on the plane and Miss K didn’t want to sit in her seat! There was lots of tears and “mummy, knee”. The Jetstar staff were lovely and gave me an belt extension. Things were ok after that as she had a feed and promptly fell asleep and slept the whole flight until just before we landed!

The original plan was to get the Skybus to the CBD then the train to South Yarra. We ended up getting a direct to hotel shuttle for about the same price and it didn’t involve carrying luggage around. Always a good thing.
We got to where we’re staying about 6 so chucked the bags in the room then went for a wander to find some food. Our meal for the evening was from a lovely little fish & chip shop – Watergrill. If you are ever in South Yarra check them out. Hubby had a piece of flake and chips (which Miss K shared) and I had a grilled chicken pita. YUMMO!

We had a quiet night in watching the footy and trying to get an excited little girl off to bed. She ended up going when we did.

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Thanks to my amazing sponsors for Digital Parents Conference 2012 – FollowMe Sticker, Belkin Australia, Bella’s Blooms and George Town IT

Want to see your business featured on my blog? Please check out my Sponsor page to see if I’m looking for sponsorship.

Leaving on a jet plane..

but I do know when I’ll be back again 😉

This time tomorrow I’ll be at the airport all ready to get on a plane with hubby & Miss K, heading off to Melbourne for Digital Parents Conference & a bit of a holiday.

I am super nervous about Friday but super excited because I get to meet so many of my bloggy crushes and there will be much squeeing. I’m a little bummed I can’t make it to the dinner after the conference but other plans were made. I’ll be following on twitter though. That and following 2 games of sport as both my teams play Friday night – Go the Dragons & Go the Hawks.

We’re all packed, there’s just the personal things to take care of (like shaving legs & giving hubby a hair cut) and getting my nails done. Oh and I guess I should get my business cards done 😉 Now where did I put that card???

Will I be seeing you at Digital Parents Conference? If so, come say hi.

Flying visits and great food.

Yesterday we made a flying visit to the other end of the state to visit my little bro for his birthday. It was early but he’ll be away for his birthday so we went and caught up early.

We stopped about half way so Miss K could have some lunch and have a play cause long car trips can be killer for littlies. We’re actually pretty lucky as Miss K will sleep in the car. Anyway, where we stopped had some great play equipment and the slide was a huge hit, so much so there were tears when it was time to leave 🙁

Finally arrived in Hobart and decided to head to the docks to Asian Gourmet on the Pier for tea. Took a quick wander to check out the boats. The Sea Shepherd’s Bob Barker was in, so was the replica Endeavour.

If you’re ever in Hobart and like Asian food check out Asian Gourmet on the Pier. YUM!!

The boys had Chicken Velvet and Sweet Corn Soup for entree. Miss K had Chicken Fried Rice. That’s it up there & she ate well over half! We then ordered 6 dishes plus rice to share. Beef with Ginger Oyster Sauce, Singapore Lemon Chicken, Cantonese Roast Duck, Strawberry Pork (sounds a strange combo but OMG yum!!), Canton Seafood Combination, and Cantonese Scallops.

Seriously yummy food and seriously worth checking out if you’re in Hobart. We’ll go back for sure!