Theme Shopping: Dogs

1. Dog trinket storybook keyrings by Lark $4.95 each
2. Squeezemeez doggie heads by Papoose $9.00 each
3. Sausage dog top by Monstar Kids $28.00
4. Hot dog by Papoose $13.00
5. Squeezmeez doggie by Papoose $12.00
6. Scotty dogs bib by Little Soursob $18.00

Trip to Healesville Sanctuary

La turned 3 recently and on her birthday we traveled to Healesville to spend the day at the animal Sanctuary there. It had been a while since we were there last.... I think when Chai was a baby (so at least 3 years!). Anyway, the place was marvelous and we enjoyed walking the curvy walking tracks to see all the Australian animals. The girls knew a lot of them already, thanks to Red Bunyip's ABC and 123 books!
We loved this giant eagle at the front entrance and just had to give him a pat.
We are Friends of the Zoos, which gives me and the girls free entry into the Melbourne Zoo for a whole year, as well as free entry into Healesville Sanctuary too! Bonus!

Inside my 'mini shop'

Wow I have not posted for a while! Not much going on around here I'm afraid.... although it could be the fact that I've enjoyed being away from the computer of late... know what I mean?

Anyway, I thought you'd like a tour of my tiny 'shop'. (It's our garage transformed into a lovely room.) Shop is open by appointment only..... if you're in the area, do stop by!

Stepping through the front door way

Lovely handmade goodies

The old cot has a new home
(the fridge sits on the right there, with it's front door off - it houses all the play food!)

Goodies galour.... this is my store room after all! (Behind this is where I wrap and package orders.... plus my fabric stash, knitting machine, rainbow comfort packs that are ready to go...)

One of the 2 clothing racks and shoe displays (boy do they take up room!) Winter wear is piled up in a corner for now..... could only hang Summer!

I play in it time to time and change things around. The girls love to play in the shop too... I find things in odd spots and wonder if in fact it's in a better place. Wonder what the space would look like if I let the girls take charge of decorating. Actually I only have to walk into the bomb that is called the 'playroom' to get my answer...

Pinky McKay - Toddlers Misbehaving teleseminar

Join Pinky McKay
for an important free teleseminar

on Thursday 22nd October, at 8 pm (Melbourne Australia time),

"Toddlers Misbehaving"

Confused About Discipline?

Tired of tantrums?

Worried about sleep, separation anxiety and surviving this exhilarating stage of development?

Or would you just like some more resources for your parenting toolbox?

If you have given your baby a gentle beginning, and now you are wondering, where to go from here?

Or, if you have more serious concerns about your toddler's behaviour, whether you have a wonderful one year old, a terrific two year old or a thrilling three year old, you will breathe a sigh of relief on this FREE teleseminar/webcast with Pinky McKay, author of the best selling book "Toddler Tactics".

We are big fans of Pinky's work and style. I have the pleasure to know her and highly recommend Pinky to all parents with children. She's a beautiful soul and very funny too!

Monstar Kids Summer 09/10

I let the girls choose their favorite Monstar Kids item from our first shipment and this is what they chose:Chai 4 1/2: Lemon Lace Skirt ....... she wears it with a watermelon pink singlet top and both are very comfortable to wear to bed too!
La 3: Dragstar Tee...... she has worn it once so far with last Summer's green leaf shorts.

More onesies and other delights have arrived. Check them out here.

Theme Shopping: Dolls

1. Felted Babushka Dolls by Papoose $64.00 set of 5
2. Kokeshi Doll Wall Art by Look At The Wall $99.00
3. Red Dot Giselle Doll by Little Soursob $35.00
4. Paper Dolls Nappy Wallet by Poss Bloss $12.95
5. Organic Minimo Dolls by Under The Nile $22.00 each
6. Fairy Flexi Dolls by Kaper Kids $6.50 each
7. Yellow Flowers Rowan Doll Pack by Little Soursob $34.95

Winner of a 2 Little Boys notebook is....

Megan from along a winding path ! Thanks for your great plan entry:

"My plan is a bit of a long term plan that I have been thinking about for a while and I have just this weekend decided to do it and begun to hatch the details. I'm going to attempt to do 30 new things before I'm 30 (in 1 year and 11 months) and today I am beginning to build my list!"

I love this idea! Very different and a great way to shake things up a bit.
Megan will be able to record her list and unfold her plan in this fabulous note book by 2 Little Boys:
Thanks to the other entrants, who shared their great plans with me. Good luck with them too!

Theme Shopping: Organic

1. Cotton Breast Pads by Natures Child $19.95 pack of 6 (night time available too)
2. Crate of Vegies by Under The Nile $60.00 (available to purchase individually)
3. Spiral Pocket Baby Carrier by Hug-a-bub $130.50 (available in 3 colours)
4. Motion Sensitive Baby Hammock by Kanoe $349.00 (available in 4 colour ways)
5. Muslin Cotton Wrap by Natures Child $24.95
6. Appliqued/Embroidered Ring Sling by Ellaroo $134.95 (in 2 different designs)
7. Minimo Dolls by Under The Nile $22.00 each (navy or red)

Fresh new colours for the pocketless Hug-a-bub

3 great new colours are now in - Pistachio, Byron blue, Fushia
An ideal low budget alternative to the original pocket Hug-a-bub... it's exactly the same (well, minus the front pocket!). Pocketless Hug-a-bub $76.50 each
Buy the pink one and we'll donate 20% profit to breast cancer research during October.

Get ready to cook

Poss Bloss have a cooking set, complete with wipe down apron in red polka dots and a few utensils needed for any young chef to whip up something yummy.... or at least prepare them for bowl licking! $35.95 for the set. Apron suits a 2 to 4 year old.
Also check out the new designs in for Poss Bloss nappy wallets.... very popular, very handy!

Welcome to new brand: Red Bunyip

Red Bunyip products are finally at bpab! I think they're the cutest Aussie animals range I've come across, ever....
Red Bunyip specialize in contemporary designs celebrating the colour and diversity of Australia’s natural wildlife and their products are designed to not only educate, but be fun, functional, and look great too!
We have 2 books in the range (shown above) for learning ABC's and 123's. $14.95 each
There are also book plates, folding puzzles, a family tree poster, light switch covers, a centipede centimetre ruler - which is my favourite, as it's flexible so you can measure around anything and tells you the names of heaps of colours that appear on his body. $6.95

Lots of other Australiana stuff to send overseas or why not word your kids up on how great the wildlife is in our own country!

Eye Spy.... my front door

Pretty exciting isn't it?
Am thinking it would look more interesting painted blue or with coloured glass.... but there's an even lovelier fly wire / metal door in front of it - so you won't see it properly anyway.
Plus we wouldn't want to steal the lime light from the yellow bricks now would we??

Formal guests and unwanted canvassers knock on this door, or ring on the bell. Some couriers like to ring twice on the door bell, which ALWAYS makes me want to answer it quicker! (like that's going to happen)
Lots of leaves and pink petals collect at the door way too.

Those who know us go around the back and say 'hello' at the door before they come in. Sometimes I get a fright, other times I yell, from the other end of the house, 'come in'.

Thanks to The Mrs. for choosing this week's theme. Her door looks much more inviting!
Drop on over to Bug and Pop's for a virtual cuppa and more Eye Spy sticky beaking.

Theme Shopping: Pink (of course!)

Keeping on with the Pink Ribbon theme, here's a small collection of what's on offer at bpab over the month of October. Remember 20% profit on any PINK item bought will be donated to Style Collective's Pink Ribbon breaky. Go to PINK STUFF at bpab.
From top to bottom, left to right:
Rabbit bell ring rattle, Cowgirl invitations, Dwink juice box
Rainbow singlet in yellow, Pink fairy crown, Little extensions (for onesies)
Paper dolls nappy wallet, Pink dots bib, Crochet flower onesie
Pink & purple flower clip, Pink 3/4 band it pants, Elephant snooze sac
Knitted watermelon rattle, Fairy wall art, Candy stripes shoes.

Pink Ribbon month.... buy PINK!

We've jumped on board with Style Collective and have gotten into the "fundraising using PINK" mode!
Click on the banner to take yourself to Style Collective's page during the month of October for Pink highlights.
We are donating 20% of profits on any PINK purchase made at beyond pink and blue during the month of October! We have a PINK STUFF category to make it easier for you to find something PINK to add to your basket. So you can shop for something yummy and still be helping a worthwhile cause. Yay!!

One in every nine Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85. It could be a mother, sister, aunt, cousin, niece or friend. Whoever they are, one thing they have in common is that they will all need our help and support.