Another fabulous interactive colouring book just begging to be illustrated! They seem to be popping up everywhere these days and with good reason too. Created by talented Melbournian Nicole Mandile, in the first of her My Picture Storybooks series, The Magical Milky Way’s Super Galactic Zoo kept my rambunctious 4-year-old son in check on a long-haul airplane flight recently. So naturally I am a big fan. He was totally engrossed in creating, drawing and pasting away, each page providing the perfect canvas for his masterpiece. It helps that he has a complete fascination with all things galaxy-related.
The book is created using uncoated paper, a great surface to sketch on and is staple bound so the pages open flat. It is printed in Australia on 100% recycled paper. It isn’t too long or too short — just perfect to capture their little attention spans.
Available through weheartbooks for local and international shipment.
Is this little girl not absolutely adorable? That face! That hat! The vest…! I could practically eat her up! Luna Ninos is an Australian brand I discovered when my son was a baby. They design and knit their products in Melbourne without linking, sewing or seams… making their beanies and bonnets, booties, baby blankets and cardigans comfortable and lightweight. They use only the finest natural fibers — pure cotton or extrafine merino wool, and each season offer an array of delectable colours, from the more muted (mouse, spinach, bamboo…) to the very bright (aqua, rosa and tomato….). Luxurious yet practical — everything is machine-washable (fortunately as I have absolutely no patience for hand-washing!). I especially love their tree blankets — not only visually superb, but proceeds from their sale support the Wilderness Society of Australia, saving our beautiful old growth forests, which is a really good thing…
To view their stunning collection and for online orders, click here!
If I had to name one wardrobe staple that my kids and I cannot live without, it would have to be our denim jeans. Sure, there are items I love more but I doubt there is an item of clothing more durable, more versatile or more enduring than a pair of well constructed denim jeans.
And so, when I discovered a cute little pop-up store in King Street, Prahran that specializes exclusively in children’s jeans, I couldn’t wait to spread the word.
Little Rivet Jeans is a gorgeous shop offering a seasonally relevant denim range for boys and girls aged 1-6 years where the focus is on fit, construction and quality – but without the ridiculously expensive price tag that we have come to expect from premium denim. The jeans are soft and simple, just as children’s jeans should be, in a really impressive range of fits and finishes — including a vibrant coloured range for the girls. And whilst they have a ‘vintage’ feel about them, they are still modern and trendy.
There are no itchy tags (a constant source of annoyance for my 4-year-old) or bothersome grommets (a constant source of annoyance for me!). Just good, wholesome classic jeans. And they all feature adjustable waistbands, another reason to rejoice! These are definitely jeans that are meant to be worn and handed down.
With Valentine’s Day approaching I am thinking that a trip to the Suga Candy Kitchen might be on the cards. This lolly shop is my kids’ version of heaven. What can be more exciting, more mesmerizing than handmade, delicious rock candy made right before your eyes (to be honest, I can think of many things but my kids, I’m sure, they can’t!). The lolliologists (highly trained lolly makers… really… I’m not kidding) stretch, pull and twist the hot molten candy, then chop it into jewel-sized bites. Yum! Fresh from the cooling slab they then generously hand out samples, and if you want to you can personalize your lollies with names or cute messages like ‘I love you’ and ‘you are sweet’ and ‘be mine’.
Oh….in case you were wondering, here in Australia we call a piece of what is called candy in the States, or sweets in the UK, as ’lollies’.
It is a fun place to go and I seriously defy anyone, sugar devotee or otherwise, to leave without having bought a bag or jar of some type of hard rock confection… A great Valentine’s treat for the children or a loved one. For more mouth watering details and Suga Candy Kitchen locations click here.
Most parents discover fairly early on that if they want to meet in a cafe with friends and have any hope of conversation (one that spans more than 10 seconds), then a distraction for the children in the form of a book/toy is imperative. It allows at least some semblance of communication between the adults whilst in the company of young children — where you can form a full sentence… in one go!!
Many cafes in Melbourne answer this need, providing crayons and butcher paper to occupy the kids. And that certainly helps! But Family Life Home & Café in Grattan Street, Prahran goes one step further. Not only is it a divine Balinese inspired space, incorporating a cafe and boutique, but it has a gorgeous imaginative play area for the children.
So… whilst you leisurely sip your cappuccino on a comfy couch, chat to friends, read the newspaper (without being interrupted every. single. sentence) and shop for hand-made toys, eco homewares, exotic recycled furniture and some great kidswear — the children are happily playing nearby in the enchanted forest or putting on a show in the gazebo! Happiness all around!
If you are visiting, be sure to check out the kidswear. Not only do they carry some great Aussie designers like Mill&Mia, Sudo and Jellyfish but they also carry a more obscure Balinese designer called Paul Ropp. His distinctive and vibrant pieces are truly amazing!
Family Life will also throw a fantastic kids birthday party, with every little detail taken care of!
It is the 17th book in the ‘This is…’ series and Sasek is visiting down under! This is Australia is a wonderful book to add to the classic travel series, first published in the ’70s, which Courtney posted about here!
In line with the later books in the series, the colours are slightly vintage and the images are retro and whimsical. And Sasek’s mode of travel to the land down under? Not in chains like the first British colonists, but on a Qantas big bird!! (which incidentally, ‘flies very well’, unlike the Australian penguin and emu!) I absolutely love these books — they introduce children to the people, customs and places of interest in cities around the world, captivating young readers with gorgeous illustrations and a witty narrative. I also think it’s fascinating to see each city from a 1960’s perspective. And…needless to say, in my family we just love the Aussie edition!
Nestled in a bend of the Yarra River, amongst the river red gum and paperbark trees (a very typical Australian setting!) is the Collingwood Children’s Farm…. a little slice of country life right in the heart of Melbourne, only 4 kilometres from the CBD. It’s a magical place for city children (and adults) and an absolute favorite with family and friends.
Here, children can get up close and personal with all the typical farmyard animals and immerse themselves in farm chores. They can get their hands dirty milking the cows, bottle feeding the lambs, waddling with the ducks, patting the rabbits, feeding grass to the horses and all the while marvel at the sight and smell of the pigs. They can also look for eggs — a great way to teach them that eggs and milk don’t come out of cartons (as I am lead to believe some ‘other’ children think is the case… not mine, of course! )
And, after all that exhausting animal frolicking, if you haven’t brought your own picnic, there is the delicious Farm Cafe where you can enjoy a decent coffee made with Eureka beans and a hearty farmer’s breakfast or lunch, always reliably good.
Needless to say, this is truly a hidden oasis for us Melbourne city dwellers. Every second Saturday of the month the farm hosts a wonderful farmers’ market selling fresh produce from the farm and from dozens of other Victorian producers. I am always gutted when I miss this. And despite a little mishap with an enthusiastic cow I was attempting to milk several months ago (I won’t divulge but it didn’t end so well for me), it really is one of my favorite places to take my children. We always have a ball.
ps. Should you happen to be a germaphobe like me, don’t forget this!
My family is in the grip of ‘Masterchef’ fever! My kids are so enthused by this reality television program that I practically have my youngest deriding me for not making the terrine for his school lunch. And while the downside for me is that the bar has been raised (my rather unspectacular cooking now looks even more… unspectacular), the show has reinforced the value of good eating, team-building and the importance of accepting constructive criticism. My daughter particularly has been caught by the cooking bug. This morning she made us a lovely, albeit slightly burnt dish of scrambled eggs, grilled tomato, and baby spinach — we devoured it… every char-grilled morsel!
A friend recently introduced me to a great children’s cooking website called Wholesome Productions which creates a fabulous range of children’s cooking kits. They also sell party cooking kits for those brave enough to host their own kid’s cooking party.
The Pizza Baking Kit (pictured) is particularly adorable because it comes in a genuine pizza box and includes an apron, chef’s hat, a pan, rolling pin and an easy-to-follow washable recipe book… a great present for this holiday season! I have also found a ton of kid’s cooking utensils and baking sets at Mini Whisk and these are worth a mention because they come in a range of cool themes (Australiana, love hearts, flying etc.) and they are really well-priced too. Alternatively, add a cute little recipe book to some mini-sized cooking tools, or a little chef’s hat to a pint sized rolling pin and there you have some practical and fun gift ideas for all the aspiring master chefs out there!
These baby loafers and ballet slippers by Australian-based company Czarque are exquisiteand so, so chic. My only gripe is that they were not around when my children were babies!!
They are delicate and soft, understated and …. just so very adorable! Not to mention, they come in the most gorgeous of textures (honestly, I’m not sure that these pictures do them justice). They are perfect for the special occasions in life or ‘just because’. After all, there is nothing more frustrating than spending money on something special for your children only to have them outgrow it after two wears. What a waste!
Czarque baby shoes are handcrafted in Australia in the finest quality Australian leather and they all feature soft, flexible brushed suede soles that are perfect for babies’ delicate feet (from newborn size to age 2). As a first shoe I think that they would make the sweetest keepsake.
They are available at Bon Bon Tresor for both local and international shipment.
Well… it’s almost summer here and we all know what that means: summer clothes! I always find it exciting shopping for summer clothes – it’s the promise of hot days on the beach, long balmy evenings, lashings of sorbet, endless swimming and those delicious summer fruits…. and as much as we complain about the heat (oh, do we ever, and don’t even get me started on those pesky flies) it really is my favorite time of the year! Now, the first place I will head to is Seed.
Seed is one of those kid’s labels that you can always rely on to deliver the essential basic pieces (the plain t-shirts, the perfect pair of cargo shorts, the classic linen shirt) and then some more. No logos, no excessive detail or styling, just lovely comfortable, clean-cut classics and always with a modern directional twist… think playground chic!
Seed’s gorgeous signature stores are located throughout Australia and Hong Kong. For the rest of the world, international shipping is available online.
I thrash my hands. Hot water, cleaning products, using my fingernails as tools… you name it… most mothers will understand! As a result, my hands are often flaky and dry — not unlike sandpaper. Over the years I have tried dozens of hand lotions, but none have worked their magic like a potion from Australian skin care range Aesop. The lotion is called Aesop Ressurection Aromatique Hand Balm and I honestly think it is the holy grail of all hand creams.
I first discovered Aesop several years ago in the restroom of a local Melbourne restaurant. It smelled and felt so intoxicatingly good that I kept going back for more (really!), and I have been hooked ever since. It soaks in, leaving no greasy residue and you can literally smell the botanical and fruity ingredients permeating your skin (rosemary, mandarin and cedarwood……delicious). In our dry Australian climate it’s no wonder this product has become somewhat of an Aussie cult favorite.
The hand cream can be purchased online but Aesop also have lovely signature stores in London, Paris, Zurich, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei and across Australia and these are definitely worth a visit.
The only thing marring the great pleasure I get from my take-away morning coffee is guilt… and I don’t mean the guilt I feel when I add my two teaspoons of sugar! Rather the guilt I feel when I toss away my disposable, un-recyclable paper coffee cup. Australians use approximately 500 million disposable cups a year and discard 1.36 million disposable cups a day into landfill! Staggering isn’t it? Indeed, our love of take-away coffee is costing our environment dearly. Now, imagine this on a global scale!
With guilt in my heart and these figures in mind, today I purchased a KeepCup.
Designed and manufactured in Australia, the KeepCup is made of recyclable propylene and has a life span of four years. It is dishwasher safe, microwaveable, stackable, BPA-free and unlike those of the porcelain variety, very lightweight (so it is easy to tote around). It doesn’t leak and comes in three ‘barista standard’ sizes, so even your barista will love you for it!
Sustainable coffee cup consumption means zero guilt …now I just need to address my excessive sugar consumption!
Actually, it is the best things in life that are free! A cliché but oh, so true. In a quest to live more simply and to try and instill this truth in my children, I have been trying to entertain them these term holidays with ‘nature inspired’ activities and simple pleasures. Homemade picnics in the garden, collecting pebbles and leaves to paint, walking rather than driving, and so forth.
Now in doing so I am learning 3 things – one, my children know a lot more about recycling than I do, even my 4-year-old (for this I have their school to thank!). Two, my kids are quite happy living more ‘simply’; they have much more of a respect for and interest in nature and their planet than I ever had, which I am ashamed to admit but of which I am so, so proud (and which I am determined to keep fostering as I learn too, with them). And three, that in Melbourne you can treat your children to the most beautiful nature attractions without needing to pay for the pleasure as you do with so many other activities – they are ‘free’, indeed just as they should be, for everyone to enjoy.
This gorgeous garden is designed specifically for children to enjoy and explore and is enclosed with only one gate in and out. It is full of interesting and interactive spots where children can play and hide, dig, climb, paddle and generally have a wonderful time learning about plants, conservation and the environment first hand. There is a wetland, a rainforest, a bamboo forest, a rocky gorge, a ruin garden with an ancient redgum, plant tunnels and a winding “river” meandering around grassy mounds. There is also a fantastic kitchen garden planted with seasonal crops.
The garden is really a great day out for all, children and adults alike (afterall, who isn’t wowed by gigantic vegetables?) and a cheap one too (well….that is, providing you don’t read the parking signs incorrectly and incur an astronomical parking ticket as I did on my last trip!)
Just don’t forget to pack the homemade picnic or you may have to rely on supplies from the ‘Observatory Cafe’ – very delicious but can be a little pricey…
This weekend, I plan to treat my kids to a mini cupcake at Little Cupcake in Delgraves Street, Melbourne — a delightful strip in the city renowned for its gorgeous hotchpotch of eclectic shops and cafes. Little Cupcake is a quaint haven for sweet tooths, dedicated entirely to cupcakes! Think mini cupcakes smothered in heavenly buttercream in a size perfect for cramming the whole thing in your mouth. As I devour my cupcake, I will float back on a nostalgic cloud to my childhood and regale my children with tales of the ‘good old days’ when the delicious aromas of Grandma’s warm gooey homemade cakes beckoned us on our weekly visits. They will probably completely ignore me, cupcake heaven beckons afterall. Oh, who can blame them?
Little Cupcakes is in fact so ‘mini’ that queues regularly spill out the door and way down the road. Timeless classics are on offer including vanilla, lemon, mint and strawberry as well as other inviting concoctions – ‘creamy coconut’, ‘Belgian button chocolate’ and the dreamy ‘Red Velvet’- my absolute favourite. Cupcakes are available in 2 sizes ‘small’ and ‘extra extra tiny’ and served on a wooden tray. Offered with an array of coffees and teas, served in pretty teapots. Who can resist? Anyone care to join me for some afternoon tea?
Melbourne is an enigmatic cosmopolitan city with an infectious energy. And for children it is a wonderland! There is so much to delight the young in this southern metropolis from interactive museums and galleries, fabulous beaches, bustling markets, an abundance of leafy parks, sporting and cultural events and child-friendly cafes and restaurants. Rather than reward my two children with toys or sweets for good behaviour, in our household we have devised a point-based system where we reward our children with ‘special outings’ in and around Melbourne. This works like a charm! They need to earn a certain number of combined points in order to earn a ‘special outing’ of their choice (within a defined list, of course, which we update regularly!). Some outings (the more expensive ones) are worth more points. But not all outing rewards cost us a thing! The points are pinned onto a homemade chart in our under-the-stairs cupboard. The one with most points at the end of the week gets to choose the outing. However, if less than 20 combined points are earned, there is no ‘special’ outing and points are carried over to the following week.
It is a win-win arrangement for all! Not only does it teach the children to co-operate and encourage one another, we have well behaved children (well, most of the time) and our family gets to enjoy activities that delight, excite and educate us all. This week we are off to the Aquarium to see the magnificent new penguin exhibit….I think I am more excited than the kids!
Now here is an Australian label to fill you with pure nostalgia and delight! Melbourne mums in the know are already familiar with ‘Big’ by Fiona Scanlan. Following her success with revered Australian fashion label “Scanlan & Theodore’ Fiona’s ‘Big’ range for girls combines the concept of clothes with dress-ups — the result is whimsical, playful and most of all, just so much fun to wear! Just ask my daughter!
The new winter collection (believe me – it does get cold here) is inspired by the circus with injections of bright colour and bold stripes – yet it still retains the all important ‘pretty’ factor. Each piece has an element of ‘dress up’ to it, embracing imagination and fun from a child’s perspective. Think wizard capes, batwing cardigans, lurex leggings, stripey tutu dresses, 20’s inspired feathered sequin headpieces (irresistible) and Paddington Bear duffle coats. There are great pared down everyday pieces too and all are reasonably priced.
What really makes me drool are the gorgeous crystal beaded tutus and coloured fishnet stockings (which will look great teamed with a chunky knit cardigan)…. Oh, and the silk dresses are simply heavenly… now if only they came in my size…..hmmm, need I go on?
What could possibly be more exciting than leaving behind the manic scenes of chaos at the school gates (aka ‘morning school drop off’) sitting down to a nice cup of tea, vegemite and butter dripping on warm toasted sourdough and my daily shot of the very addictive and highly insightful Babyccino blog? Joining the Babyccino team, of course! My name is Sara and I’m so thrilled to be on board! I cannot wait to share the best my beautiful city has to offer in the world where fashion, food, style and motherhood coincide.
Now, what to know about me? I was born and raised in inner-Melbourne and prior to children I was a lawyer with a specialty in Intellectual Property Law. The only intellectual property quandary I resolve these days is who gets to suck on the mango stone. Law was a piece of cake compared to the trials and tribulations of motherhood but nothing could prepare me for the sheer joy and incredible love, and I have been a stay-at-home mum since my daughter Zoe was born almost 8 years ago. I share with the team at Babyccino a passion for art, style, interior design, fashion, good food, travel and shopping. Melbourne is a mecca for all these things but I admit, I also have plenty of expertise in trawling the shops of London, New York, Paris and beyond without leaving my couch!
Now, if only I could get on a plane and meet my co-bloggers in person….oh and do a spot of shopping while I’m over there….
Australia is on the top of my list for places I want to visit. Perhaps it’s the sunshine, the laid-back lifestyle, the cool shops, the good food, the beach, the…. And it really seems like there are so many great Australian kid’s products and labels popping up all over the place. (Must be all that sunshine — I swear it’s good for you!) Anyway, we are all very excited to add another contributor to Babyccino, and thrilled to have another voice from Australia. Melbourne this time…
Sara is a mum of two, a native to Melbourne, she’s traveled the world, and she LOVES to shop. We’re lucky to welcome her to our team, and excited to hear all about Melbourne, cool Australian products, her parenting tips and anything else she’ll share with us!
Another fabulous interactive colouring book just begging to be illustrated! They seem to be popping up everywhere these days and with good reason too. Created by talented Melbournian Nicole Mandile, in the first of her My Picture Storybooks series, The Magical Milky Way’s Super Galactic Zoo kept my rambunctious 4-year-old son in check on a long-haul airplane flight recently. So naturally I am a big fan. He was totally engrossed in creating, drawing and pasting away, each page providing the perfect canvas for his masterpiece. It helps that he has a complete fascination with all things galaxy-related.
Sara in Melbourne
March 7th, 2010
2 comments
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Australia is on the top of my list for places I want to visit. Perhaps it’s the sunshine, the laid-back lifestyle, the cool shops, the good food, the beach, the…. And it really seems like there are so many great Australian kid’s products and labels popping up all over the place. (Must be all that sunshine — I swear it’s good for you!) Anyway, we are all very excited to add another contributor to Babyccino, and thrilled to have another voice from Australia. Melbourne this time…
