It's Red Nose Day!

Most of the time a red nose indicates doom in our household.

DOOM I tell you!

It could be the first sign of Man-Flu or, even more terrifying, Toddler-Flu. Able to strike fear into the heart of mother's everywhere!

And, on a separate note, red noses usually mean that a clown is in the room. And this is very bad because I have a fear of clowns. An all consuming, soul destroying fear.

FEAR!

But once a year, a red nose is something I love to see.

On a bear at least...

Every year I buy a little fairy bear, I have done since before Elena was born - SIDS and Kids has always been one charity that I've been happy to donate to. I know in my heart why it's always been important, and that's where it will stay. It's not my story to tell.

This year I was lucky enough to be sent some Red Nose Baby Wipes* that raise funds for Red Nose Day. Hermione has proven to be quite sensitive to some additives in baby wipes - and I had found only one brand that didn't make her break out in a rash and blow up like a balloon.

Until now!

Red Nose Baby Wipes are the only Aussie made and owned baby wipes on the market, and 5% of all sales go to SIDS and Kids. And they are one of 2 brands that I can use on Hermione.

The wipes are a fantastic size, and the texture is wonderful. Soft and soothing, wet enough to get the job done but your baby is left feeling dry and clean.

Winning!

While our little family is extremely blessed and has never had to access the services of SIDS and Kids, I can't imagine how hard it would be for those families, who have experienced the loss of a child, if SIDS and Kids weren't here to offer the support they do.

"SIDS and Kids is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and supporting bereaved families. We deliver on our vision through world class research; evidence based education and bereavement support; and advocacy."

If you give to only one charity a year, make SIDS and Kids your choice.




For more information on Red Nose Day and SIDS and Kids visit www.sidsandkids.org
For more information on the Red Nose Baby Wipes visit www.aussiewipes.com.au

*Disclaimer: I was provided one pack of large Red Nose Baby Wipes to trial.*

Yo Shorty - It's Your Birthday...

Although I prefer to think of myself as 'fun size'.

So, today, I am 29 years old. It doesn't feel like I've been on earth for 29 years - some days it feels like I've been here a shit load longer!

I keep thinking there should be some change in me, but I think this every year - that I suddenly become more mature, or that I should now be interested in watching the stock market and read poncy newspapers over coffee. But maybe that will come next year, when I hit 30?

On reflection, I think I've done okay with my time thus far. Sure, there are things that might be nice to 'do over', but what's the point in worrying about that? There's a reason our heads can't turn 180 degrees.

This year though, I've decided I'm going to be a bit 'louder'. I've always been very reserved, and so now I want to be more confident in who I am. I'm not going to pretend I do or don't like something just because someone else feels that way. I'm going to be honest about my opinions, make choices based on how I feel and what I think.

I'm going to try and stop worrying about the rest of the world and remember that it's ok to be me.

So, for starters, I want to do something with my hair. I've already lost the length - I had it chopped from just below my butt, to my shoulders, when Miss 4 was about 6 months old. It was liberating, even if I did feel bald for ages and continued to try and brush hair that wasn't there anymore.

I call it my 'phantom hair' stage.

That really only leaves colour and texture. So my curls will go on holiday for a short while, and goodbye to the brown/red colour I've been sporting for too long. I'm going to go for the change I've been wanting for a while...

Image via Google

Yep - red and black.

I know it's not exactly your typical 'mum style', but I'm trying to break out of the 'mummy mould' I've put myself in. Who says you can't be a kick-arse parent and rock some fab locks!? Look at Miss Pink from The Mummy Autobiography - completely proves my point.

I think I've been inspired to make a change by The Man. He's on a mission to become a toned champion of the 5am run and the 5pm workout. That kind of change is so far out of my spectrum I don't even know where to begin. I can support him and make sure his workout clothes are clean, but me and my peanut M&M's will be observing from the couch.

When I die, I'll know immediately if I've gone to hell. The room will be filled with clowns and their pet spiders on exercise equipment.

I have made a promise to myself that I would try and tone up a bit, but by the time I've run up and down the front stairs a few hundred times with loads of laundry, bags of rubbish and/or a baby, cleaned the house and been on the trampoline with Miss 4, I figure I've done more than enough exercise and it didn't involve any of the equipment that features in my nightmares.

This year will be a year of experimentation and, hopefully, success. I've already navigated the process of giving birth in a car, sending Miss 4 to pre-school and resisting the urge to constantly buy cute clothes for both my girls - changing my hairstyle will be easy as! Especially when you consider that it'll be a child free experience, plus head massages, massage chairs and coffee on demand involved in the lengthy process.

And best of all - someone else has to clean up after ME!

You never know, maybe I'll take some peanut M&M's with me and make it a truly indulgent day...

Open Mic Night...

I am not a public speaker.

It's one of those fears that I've not conquered and have no plans to do so. It's so bad, I think my worst nightmare would be waking up to find I got a job as a public speaking clown. I would scare the shit out of myself.

In high-school I would use every excuse in the book to avoid having to do presentations. I couldn't even face standing up in front of the family and friends at our wedding to say thank you - I went to all 110 individually.

Gratefully, this open mic is fictional and in Eden's head. Although I still don't want to be standing up in there, in front of all her brain cells. So hopefully she'll let me hide amongst the crowd while she plays this for them...

'The Sweetest Thing' - U2

My love throws me like a rubber ball

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing

She won't catch me or break my fall

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing

Baby's got blue skies up ahead

But in this I'm a rain cloud

You know she likes a dry kind of love

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing

I'm losing you

I'm losing you yeah

Ain't love the sweetest thing

I wanted to run but she made me crawl

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing

Eternal fire, she turned me to straw

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing

You know I got black eyes

But they burn so brightly for her

This is a blind kind of love

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing

I'm losing you

Oh oh oh, I'm losing you

Ain't love the sweetest thing

Blue-eyed boy meets a brown-eyed girl

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing

You can sew it up but you still see the tear

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing

Baby's got blue skies up ahead

But in this I'm a rain cloud

Ours is a stormy kind of love

I love this song - it was the first song I heard shortly after Miss 3 was born, which was ironic considering I had wanted it playing in the room while I birthed her, but I forgot the CD at home. I always look at it as a sign that both Nanna's knew she had arrived.
Bono wrote this song after he forgot his wife's birthday while they were recording 'The Joshua Tree' - and because this post is late and it's a belated 'Happy Birthday' to Eden, it seemed only appropriate.

Friday Fluff: The Disturbing Edition

So welcome to another Friday Fluff!

It begins with a toddler who is obsessed with her Mr Men and Little Miss DVD's (which I won courtesy of the wonderful Lucy @ Diminishing Lucy) and, as a result, has bestowed upon the Guru a Mr Men identity.

Image Credit

"Mr Jelly is Daddy!!" ~ The Toddler

Personally, I've not been given this honour and I believe my self esteem is improved as a result. I've still not recovered from the previous compaison to an animated character.

But I have to say, while I was Googling for pictures of Mr Jelly (aka The Guru) I found Mr Jelly's horrifyingly evil opposite...

Image Credit

Meet Mr Jelly. His advertising campaign is 'Mr Jelly keeps kids quiet'.

Yeah...

My fear of clowns outweighs my fear of death as of today.