Baysidemama

My 'greening' thumbs

2009-10-02T12:35:00.008+10:00

My gardening journey began about ten years ago, although it began primarily indoors. I was one of those people who used to love devouring gardening and design books, but had no idea how to actually transform my own patch, which at the time consisted on a small courtyard.

These days I am addicted. I love everything about the garden, it's colour, texture, scent....and the fact it changes every day.

After stumbling out of bed and attending to the dietary needs of my brood, one of my first daily tasks is to take a stroll around my newly planted and designed front garden and just take a peak at what's doing. Amazingly I can usually see changes happening every day.

I also love the fact that almost everything about this space is it is my own construction. Apart from bringing in two guys to construct my compacted sand pathway, I have planted every plant, a process which has provided immense satisfaction in a kind of meditative way.

This area of the garden was just six months ago a patch of dying lawn with a few exotics (read azaleas and other totally impractical plants).

I've filled it with Australian grasses, kangaroo paws, grevilleas, native hibiscus, mini flowering gums and banksias. When it started to flower this spring I also realised I had planted mostly white and purple flowering plants. I love the crispness of white blooms in a garden and the mix of pale and deep purples work really well with our bluestone fence.

There's a lot to go and a whole backyard to do, but I'm amazed just how much this area already looks like it has been here for years.....

I will post more 'macro' shots soon....

A return from the wilderness

2009-10-01T11:15:00.003+10:00

OK it's been so long between snippets on this site - the urge, time and ability to post was somehow lost amongst all the other daily demands.
So to mark the return to Baysidemama being an active site, here's a pic of another fresh face - our new household member!'

Ways to help the wildlife

2009-02-14T16:20:00.006+11:00

I have been at a loss to post anything on this website as I watched the utter devastation of parts of Victoria over the last week. As a wordsmith, words fail me at this point.

Much has been written about the wonderful ways to help the thousands upon thousands of people who have lost loved ones and their homes. This includes the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

I thought something useful to post here might be some links to helping wildlife who have somehow survived this inferno. It is estimated that one million animals have perished. There is some amazing work going on, including the work of Wildlife Victoria and its volunteer workers who are now on the ground and in desperate need of supplies. On Wildlife Victoria's website, there is a list of what they need at this point and drop-off points. You can find Wildlife Victoria here.

Also, the always amazing Animal Aid animal shelter at Coldstream - which is itself now on fire alert - is also organising supplies and vets and doing supply runs and work in the field. It too is in need of all sorts of supplies and money and also residents to put their hand up if they are able to foster an animal for a period of time. You can find Aninmal Aid here.

The amazing response of our community during this time has been something uniquely inspiring. The rebuilding of parts of this state is going to be a mammoth task and is going to require every inch of that spirit which has been so in abundance this week.

And if you are an international reader, there are fire report updates here.

A (Junior) Corner Of One's Own

2009-02-04T08:09:00.003+11:00

With a little one just starting school I felt she was ready for a slightly larger work and play space. I had found this amazing old wooden children's desk at a trash and treasure market and took it home - although at the time I had no idea where to put it or use it for. It was just so lovely. It has a pull down top and lots of little words scribbled into the old wood from previous owners.

Anyway, I thought I would find a nice little sunny corner for it and set it up and she absolutely loves it. She has stacked all her paper and pencils and other bits and pieces in it and it has become an active hub of home. The little plastic figures on top are other market finds.

Speaking of school, what an amazing yet strange transition it is - for child and parent alike. With the younger starting kinder, I have returned home to feel quite conflicted about the domestic silence. While it offers a brief few hours of freedom to GET THINGS DONE, I've realized it also signals the end of those long open days where we could just do what we felt like that day - be it a bit of pasting or a walk, with no rules or structures. How quickly that time passes......

Bleak heat

2009-01-29T08:18:00.001+11:00

Green and blue reflections, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

Early this morning the men with their chainsaws were up at dawn across the road, tearing down a magnificent gum tree. When I wandered over to find out why, it appears it is yet another victim of this terrible drought - dried out and ready to fall.

This searing heat - 43 degrees again today - always makes me feel bleak about what we have done to our land. The lack of shade in the suburbs and such poorly designed homes mean we are a country dependent on air con.

Last night, before it was even dark, I found the ringtail possums desperately trying to drink from the pool.

I urge any locals to leave some bowls of water - both low and high - out for our wildlife today and tonight. I figure if we razor their habitat as we have as a people, at least we can offer them a drink.

Red Hot Heat

2009-01-27T22:25:00.001+11:00

Red, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

Heat is the word.

Summer has kept its full wrath hidden these past few weeks and now it's here with full velocity. Searing heat as red as this flower. It's going to be reaching 40 degrees here all week and talk is all about will our ageing power grid cope with a city hooked on air con?

I can still well remember when the whole city's gas supply went down a few years ago now.

That was during late summer heat and modern civilised life hinged on an electric wok and a plastic solar shower bag.

Let's see how the infrastructure goes this week.

The 'housewife' returns....but is she welcome

2009-01-10T12:52:00.030+11:00

I recently interviewed Stacey Murray of the Sheeps Clothing blog for a piece I did for the Herald Sun newspaper on the rise in popularity of the domestic crafts among women.

I argued in a related opinion piece in the same paper that this was very much about women proudly reclaiming the personal realm, as opposed to earlier incarnations of feminism which roundly rejected the domestic sphere.

As Stacey points out on her blog, the pieces have incited much debate - such as this piece by Adelaide columnist Clementine Ford and heated reaction. It is intriguing as I believe Ford and many of the online comments have misunderstood my argument - that embracing the domestic realm is a sign of moving forward for women - that they finally have the voice to reclaim this space.

Anyway, take a look at what Stacey has to say over at her blog, and by all means, feel free to add your thoughts.

There are also active discussions on this article going on in Adelaide here, in Brisbane here and in Maryland, USA here, and in Oakland County, California, USA here.

Green tomatoes

2009-01-03T21:55:00.001+11:00

Green tomatoes, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

I am ridiculously proud of these little babies. My first batch in a couple of years and they are growing nicely. So easily in fact that I don't know why I didn't get to planting more this season. However the herb patch is booming, with rosemary, basil, chives and mint in copious supply. These will taste great with some lovely mango chutney that has proved a daily summer staple in our household.

The New Housewife

2008-12-31T09:40:00.001+11:00

Here's a link to my column in today's Herald Sun. It's about how domesticity is back and why this is an empowering thing for young women. Did you know that sales of things like sewing machines, fabric, knitting materials and vegie punnets have enjoyed a boom in the last six months. I argue it is partly the economic situation, partly green concerns and partly women proudly taking back and owning the domestic crafts. Take a look.....

www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24857435-5000117,00.html

Vintage teak table

2008-12-27T17:55:00.001+11:00

White with vintage teak table, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

I've had this dining room table for quite a while now - it was recovered from a beach house on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula and dates from the 1960s. Although the surface needs a little work, I like it's shape although there have been points when I have been tempted to trade it in for a new more solid table.
Since we've added a lot of white to this room in the form of sheer blinds and light shades, I am enjoying it again.

CHRISMAS WREATH - INSPIRED BY JANE CUMBERBATCH'S PURE STYLE

2008-12-24T09:33:00.001+11:00

CHRISMAS WREATH - INSPIRED BY JANE CUMBERBATCH'S PURE STYLE , originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

Merry Christmas everybody and I wish you a safe and happy 2009.

Have yourself a vintage little Christmas

2008-12-21T20:31:00.004+11:00

I have a great little collection of new and vintage Santas, collected from everywhere from Quebec City to Vienna and good old Bentleigh market. I'm pretty sure these two numbers came from local op shops for a couple of pennies each. The vintage balls above also came from a lovely box of six very old ones in a local op shop. The santas look most charming with their collective red hats bobbing on the tree.

magnolia square back in bayside

2008-11-17T21:00:00.003+11:00

For all you locals, the Magnolia Square market is back on November 27-29 at Brighton Town Hall. Lovely handmade goods. The last one I went along to I found some great beanbag covers for the kids in fabulous vintage fabric. But be warned....the crowds are big. And speaking of magnolias, how lovely is this shot. Take at look at: www.magnoliasquare.com.au

Vintage find - cast iron dog hook

2008-10-25T07:25:00.001+11:00

Vintage find - cast iron dog hook, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

This was a relatively recent market find for me - a woman was selling heaps of these amazing cast iron dog hooks. I decided on one and then when I went back the next week, she'd sold out. A bargain I guess at $5 each. The dog sits on a wall overlooking our back area - a perfect hook for summer beach towels, or in this case, a lantern (also a vintage find)

Red at sunset

2008-10-24T13:39:00.001+11:00

Red at sunset, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

This was the light around here at sunset yesterday. Have a happy weekend.

Lanterns

2008-10-23T07:52:00.001+11:00

Lanterns, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

I haven't taken these down yet - they were for a party but look so lovely and colourful swaying in the breeze. There are so many great shops for paper lanterns and all sorts of wonderful finds in Victoria Street in Richmond - it's worth a look if you're visiting Melbourne.

kangaroo paw

2008-10-22T15:20:00.002+11:00

kangaroo paw, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

I'm a stickler for indigenous plants in gardens however I make an exception for the kangaroo paw. Besides, it's still a native and still provides feed for birds. I find it a remarkably beautiful plant in a very structured, striking way and have spent the last two weekends planting masses of red and pink varieties along our driveway. The garden is coming to life as the weather heats up - walked out the front this morning to find two very adventurous lorikeets literally heads inside our possum box to take a look at the sleeping possums. Luckily they survived without a big gash to their feathered heads.

Mermaid party

2008-10-21T16:22:00.001+11:00

Mermaid party, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

Party season and been alive and well around here and I recently hosted a mermaid themed party. This was great fun as it meant decorating wise, I could move along from the absolute all encompassing pinkness of early girldhood. Blue, green and purple were great fun as a decorating base. We set this little mermaid up on a collection of rocks from the garden and then added green sparkly seaweed. I used balloon, material and bird netting to create an undersea cave and vases filled with water coloured with blue food dye as water tanks.

A new vegie garden begins

2008-10-20T14:25:00.005+11:00

Blooms on our orange tree (above)

My new pot of mint

Yes, I know it's been a little while between posts here.

And in keeping with the current fiscal theme of the times, my first return post is a little peak at the beginnings of our vegie and fruit patch. We have one magnificent existing orange tree that produces so much fruit we can't keep up with it - much of it has been sent off to more experienced jam and marmalade makers than I.

But in a bid to stem the ridiculous amounts of money fruit and veg was now costing us, we have started to grow some of our own. First up is a little herb garden, and already mint (see above), rosemary, parsley and basil is growing with wild abandon.

Next up, planting some tomatoes, strawberries and corn (the corn is courtesy of my pre-schooler who loves the idea - not too sure how successful that one will be).

Spring has arrived

2008-09-04T07:08:00.001+10:00

Spring has arrived, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

Fresh flowers, and brighter morning light....warmer weather must be on the way.

Cute crowns

2008-09-02T06:32:00.001+10:00

Maya with Aqua Fairy Crown, originally uploaded by nestdecorating.

Still on my aqua blue theme....how cute are these crowns? They are made by Nest...follow the picture link above to see more

Early morning light

2008-09-01T10:03:00.001+10:00

Spring light, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

I'm loving this blue - like a deep aqua and it suits the mood of the new season

Spring's just around the corner

2008-08-30T20:30:00.001+10:00

Dining , originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

Fresh flowers to mark the fact Spring is almost here - and it was warm enough today to open up all the windows and let the air in. More pics on my Flickr page

Play kitchen

2008-08-28T12:19:00.001+10:00

Play kitchen, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

I found the little wicker picnic basket on top of the play stove at a local market for $3. We've recently had fun been making play spaghetti with long strands of felt. Tea anyone?

Ann Wood again...

2008-08-27T12:57:00.001+10:00

roast, originally uploaded by annwood.

Here's an image of artist Ann Wood's bird creations, as mentioned in the post below

Artist: Ann Wood

2008-08-27T12:50:00.002+10:00

This New York based artist - Ann Wood - makes amazing creations - I love her birds and her ships. The ships especially, seem otherworldly

Take a look at her bird creations on summer camp.....

http://annwood.net/blog/2008/07/13/camp-wapameo-for-birds/

My column

2008-08-09T13:18:00.002+10:00

Check out today's Home magazine in the Herald Sun for my green living column - today I'm looking at how to throw a rocking good party without doing serious damage to lots of trees....not to mention, overdosing on plastic

Whatever happened to....Naomi Wolf

2008-08-08T10:17:00.002+10:00

naomi wolf, originally uploaded by hedgehoghead.

I was looking through some old books of mine recently and came across The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf. Remember that? I can recall the late 1980s or was it early 1990s when she did several talks and book tours in Melbourne and was all the talk during those days at uni. I wondered whatever happened to her (the last book by her I had read was The Treehouse. But then I looked online and she's since written a book about the Bush Administration and its military policies titled: The End of America. Was I the only one to miss it?

Now looking through The Beauty Myth, my first thought was: nothing kills the passionate young feminist more than looking after young children (me, not her).

Fancy a little radical feminist or liberal text? Just pass me the shopping list....the kids need lunchbox supplies. (No I'm not really that jaded, just some days).

Great site for children's art

2008-08-05T13:57:00.004+10:00

owl love by lorena siminovich, originally uploaded by Emmy K.

I found this great site via the lovely blog Rummage. It's called Kindergallery and is a site which showcases and sells the work of some wonderful artists, including a couple of favs of mine - Lorena Siminovich and Ana Ventura. Great for kids rooms or anywhere in the house really. Above is a Flickr image of one of Lorena's works. Enjoy....

I'm watching.....

2008-08-03T18:08:00.007+10:00

IMG_9719-1, originally uploaded by Bengt Nyman. Pic courtesy: Flickr.

Last night went along and caught Mama Mia The Movie and I must say, it was absolutely fab....the music, the setting, the costumes. Just brilliant. I caught the original ABBA at the Myer Music Bowl as a very young tacker when they toured Melbourne in the 70s so like most movie goers, it was a kind of joyous trip down the memory lane of youth. And ohhh, those costumes....bring back the glitter and blue eye shadow I say.

Shannon Fricke blogs

2008-08-02T09:34:00.002+10:00

Shannon Fricke kitchen, originally uploaded by homebug.

Australian interior stylist Shannon Fricke - you may know her from her series on Lifestyle Channel or her many books - has started a blog. I really like her approach to design - especially her use of colour.
Take a look here

Mamas Mean Business: Jane Anderson

2008-07-30T09:27:00.001+10:00

As many regular readers know, I am running a series on mums who have set up their own businesses.

Today we're talking to Jane Anderson who, as well as a mum of five and a part-time swimming coach, has acted on her interest in skincare and set up her own business. While many mums start their business from scratch, many more also work through a parent company, which is what Jane has done. Here she tells Baysidemama what it's like to run a business that way. Here's Jane....

Tell us about yourself:

I am a mother of 5 children (3 of my own and 2 step children) aged between 16 and 4. I am also a part-time swimming teacher. Prior to starting a family, I worked in the recruiting industry as an administration manager, running a busy office, payroll and basic accounts.

How did the skincare business come about?

I became a Grace Consultant in July 2007. Grace Cosmetics is an Aloe Vera based skin care that is natural and botanical with no chemicals. Grace Cosmetics are 100% Australian with the Aloe all organically grown in Queensland.

I have been using Grace products on and off since I was 19 (I am now 40). I have tried the more expensive, commercial products, but always come back to the Grace Products as they work and are very gentle on my sensitive skin.

I suffered from acne Rosesea. I had taken six months of antibiotics and rubbed in antibiotic creams, but they didn’t work. Grace brought out a new range of masks and I tried the Purifying Clay Mask with Manuka Honey and after a month I realized that my skin had markedly improved and now the Rosesea has gone.

In July 2007, my Grace distributor asked me if I would like to sign up so I could get the products at a discount price. I was skeptical at first as I am not really a sales person and I thought I would have monthly sales targets to reach and minimum orders, but was assured that there was no pressure and no minimum orders, you could put one in every six months if you wanted to. So I signed up.

At first I thought I would just buy for myself at a discounted price, but after giving my close friends facials with the product I realized that I loved doing this and really believed in the product. I could make a business out of this.

How does your business work?

I invite friends, friends of friends over for a facial to try the products. The products speak for themselves, people are amazed how nourished their skin feels after their treatment. I now have a great business with a good re-order rate.

Some people run their business as party-plan, but I found that was way out of my comfort zone. I prefer to work one-on-one so I can answer questions and explain each product to my client. My aim every month is to do at least four facials and try to re-service every week. As I get more confident and more product knowledge I may try party plan again, but for now the one-on-one is working for me.

The parent company, Pro-ma Systems, offer a great support network and monthly training which I attend. It offers business basics, motivation and product information. The commission structure is one of the best in the industry with 50% discount on the products at the highest level and generous commissions on your team’s performance.

What's the best thing about running your own show?

The best thing is that you run your business at your own pace. It is up to you whether you make hundreds/thousands of dollars a month or just buy for yourself.

Pro-ma also have a charity arm, which I have become involved in. Light of Hope offers assistance to children in countries like Papua New Guinea, India. They provide schooling, housing, clothes, etc.

Jane has a special offer for readers of Baysidemama. A complimentary facial for you and a friend valued at $80. If you'd like more info, email Jane for more information at: andrew77@bigpond.net.au

Home magazine and my column

2008-07-27T09:57:00.002+10:00

Phillip Island - coastal growth, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

Yesterday was a busy day in the Herald Sun's Home magazine. MyGreenhouse column was looking at how to help your kids appreciate and learn about nature. Some of the ideas included setting up simple nature tables, something we do from time to time here at the home of Baysidemama and they are always popular - both the collecting bit and setting out our little finds.

Then there was a feature on nursery design and included was the lovely botanical inspired design by Leanne who runs the delightful blog house-n-baby. Go and take a look at Leanne's post on the matter and her Flickr pics - she has used really simple materials to create a gorgeous nursery which steers away from being over-cute and instead is a room little boys could grow happily in for many years.....

School vegie gardens

2008-07-22T10:55:00.003+10:00

Backyard Cabbage, originally uploaded by LollyKnit.

Lots of parents in Bayside are talking about the fabulous kitchen garden which has been developed at Cheltenham Primary School. As far as I understand it, each class gets a vegie plot so the kids can learn to plant and harvest seasonal vegies and then there is a classroom cooking program so that the children can get involved in understanding - and enjoying - how that produce goes from the plot to the table.

Funny thing is, people talk about it as such a creative standout feature, but really, shouldn't all schools be doing this as a natural part of early education?

A vegie garden doesn't require much space but in this day and age when food is so removed from nature in the eyes of many children, it seems such an obvious thing to be doing at primary age.

Acclaimed food writer Stephanie Alexander has done amazing things with her kitchen garden program in Australia but this is also something many schools can develop themselves.

A big night out....

2008-07-21T19:48:00.003+10:00

My children seem to think a trip to the doctor's is a big night out. God knows they go there often enough. You can pretty much guarantee that no matter how unwell and deflated they are, mention of the local medical clinic seems to rouse them from their illness and into their coats before dear old mum has even managed to brush her locks. I think it is that toy box in the middle of the waiting room that holds special appeal.

So this week they've had a few big nights there. Let's see. In the space of just over a week we've managed to deal with:
one chest infection;
one case of bronchitis;
one nasty asthma attack (requiring side trip to local hospital emergency);
one case of conjunctivitis and now, after this evening, a lovely little case of his 'n hers ear infections. Simply grand.

The chemist just told me to take a good lie down. I think we've reached the beyond sleep point in the story.

Can I help you?

2008-07-21T08:32:00.002+10:00

I've noticed that a lot of Baysidemama readers are people who have moved to Australia or are thinking about doing so. So, I thought I would ask if there is any info that would be helpful to you guys that you would like me to include - any new categories of listings, things like that. If so, just put a message in the comments or email me at: baysidemama@gmail.com

Colours of winter

2008-07-17T15:20:00.002+10:00

Ahhh.....there's the light

Winter time

2008-07-16T14:13:00.002+10:00

Magical*, originally uploaded by imapix.

OK, Melbourne doesn't quite look like this in the winter - more a cold, damp dark look to it rather than glistening snow. But it sort of captures the mood for this week. With half the household very sick, I've hit my limitation on embracing the season. Roll on spring. This pic was shot in Quebec City, where I have been and it is as magical a place as the picture suggests. I went there in the depths of winter and marvelled at locals skiing cross country to work - for an Australian, that's quite a sight. It's also the place I decided to get brave on the ski slopes and immediately headed straight into a tree - no major harm done though, just an embarassing rescue on one of those motorised ski machines.

Also, take a look at the link to the Flickr page by this photographer - amazing nature images.

backyard chooks

2008-07-14T12:19:00.005+10:00

Ursula and Mimma, originally uploaded by BruceTurner. Picture: Courtesy Flickr.

Talk around here of late has been about chooks. Backyard chooks to be exact. We've been toying with the idea - although the depths of a cold wet Melbourne winter doesn't seem like the best time to start. I've researched the idea of keeping chickens quite a bit and they sound like great household additions.

Apparently a breed called the Pekin is great for suburban dwellers and they are also fluffy and pretty social.

One site I found useful is a Melbourne enterprise called Book A Chook. You can 'lease' a couple of chickens for a few weeks or months to see if you really are going to like the idea. They come complete with housing. If you do - and most clients apparently love the idea - then you can get your own permanent brood.

The site is: www.bookachook.com.au

Can you help with craft for the animals?

2008-07-07T08:27:00.006+10:00

I help out with the Keysborough Animal Shelter, which is a large shelter servicing the south-east and southern parts of Melbourne. It receives no government support and yet shelters and rehomes thousands of cats, dogs, rabbits, even goats roosters and even sheep each year.

Our main fundraising event each year is a Christmas fete and this is where we need your help.
For those creative bloggers and readers out there, I propose this. This year at the fete we will be running a special handmade crafts stall - with all money going to the animals. Are you in a position to donate something you've made? It could be a handmade toy, craft item, handmade children's or adults clothes. Or even a nice bag of crafty/sewing scraps that someone would find useful. It could even be a voucher if you have a shop.

Of course your contribution will be accompanied with info on who donated it and your business details.

If you would like to, email me at: baysidemama@gmail.com and we'll talk.

Oh, and the shelter's online here, if you'd like to take a look at the four-legged lovelies that this fundraising supports.

2008-07-01T08:32:00.005+10:00

I've long been one of those people very interested and cautious about the source and contents of food - especially the processed stuff. You know what I mean - all those preservatives, additives and things. This used to be a view which was regarded as a little left of centre. These days, it seems to be pretty mainstream as more and more is written about the impact this can have on health. I've also long been fascinated by the cultural role of food - especially how the types of food we eat can - or not - reflect our social and political views. The issue of meat is a good example.

But on top of all that, what's been on my mind - and most people's - of late is the cost of fruit and veg. Every time I pay for a basket at my local fruit and veg store at the moment, I almost hyperventilate at the cost and how much it has gone up. So what to do? I'm currently researching other supply options. If anyone has any good sources in Melbourne, please feel free to share them in the comments section. And for a number of reasons, I'm looking to plant my first vegie garden this spring.

One place I have visited before which has great fresh produce is Kingston Farmers' Market. It's held on the 1st Saturday of each month (except January) from 8am to 12:30pm at Sir William Fry Reserve, cnr Nepean Highway and Bay Rd, Highett (Opposite Southland, Melways: 77-G11).

Stalls include breads, cheeses, meats, dips, fruit and vegies, free-range eggs, pasta and much more. Entrance is a $2 charity donation. I didn't find it especially cheap, but at least the produce was fantastic quality and straight from the grower to you. There was also a good range of organic goods.

The school speed limit menance

2008-06-26T11:17:00.003+10:00

Cool Round Speed Limit Sign., originally uploaded by Incase Designs. Picture: Flickr.

What is it about school 40 km speed limits which brings out the road rage in some people?

Where we live, there are quite a few schools around and so every morning and afternoon, the driving gets a little bit more complicated in terms of the speed limit (for overseas readers, roads near local schools here have a speed limit of 40 kms per hour during morning and afternoon arrivals and departures).

It seems it is a little too complicated for many - without fail, I will get aggressively tail-gated by one car each day while driving 40 kms along one of these school stretches. They sometimes drive so close it is quite unnerving and very hard to ignore.

Does anyone else 0ut there experience this? What to do?

Community wins back its maternal health centre site

2008-06-26T07:18:00.003+10:00

This is a win for children. And it is a happy and timely reminder of what can be achieved when a groundswell of community opinion and concern is turned into action.
Last week the Bayside Council voted to keep the site of the Black Rock maternal and child health centre.
This follows a rising up of the community in outrage at plans to sell the site. Not only is it historic, but is also represents a great opportunity to provide Black Rock with a much needed facility for small children and their parents, such as a Playhouse.
The Council even said they were open to considering this.

Great books site

2008-06-24T10:13:00.001+10:00

If you're looking for inspiration in the way of kids books, check out this local site: www.weheartbooks.com

Run by two Melbourne mums, it is all about offering reviews and suggestions for different age groups. What a great idea

Bayside cat show and cats in need

2008-06-21T20:24:00.006+10:00

Don't forget it's the Bayside Cat Show tomorrow (Sunday) for all those local animal lovers. I took a look last year and it was kind of quirky but interesting (but also wall to wall people).

But while we're on the topic of all things feline, the Keysborough Animal Shelter is, as always, bursting at the seems with unwanted but lovely cats of all sizes, colours and descriptions. This includes the lovely Lotus, pictured here, who has been waiting for a home for a very long time.....

Keysborough Animal Shelter: www.aaps.org.au

Bayside Cat Show: Sunday , Sandringham College, Holloway Rd, Sandringham

Interesting link

2008-06-21T20:22:00.004+10:00

Here's an interesting site that I've come across via a link from Loobylu. It's called Sustainable Melbourne and is full of all sorts of interesting tidbits, news and links. Take a look.....

Artist in profile: AshleyG

2008-06-19T11:28:00.003+10:00

Quality Time, originally uploaded by ashleyg. Image: Courtesy of AshleyG's Flickr site.

I love this artist's work. She has a quirky sense of humour which comes through in everything I've seen. I have one of her prints: 'Every boy is a superhero sometimes' in my son's room.
You can look and buy Ashley's prints via her Etsy shop, she also has a blog and Flickr page.

Visit Ashley at: www.kittygenius.com

Knock Knock

2008-06-18T14:24:00.003+10:00

Let me in, let me in, it's cold out here (and yes, I know my windows need a good clean).

Mamas Mean Business: Author and Journalist Claire Heaney

2008-06-17T10:55:00.005+10:00

A few weeks ago I started a series called Mamas Mean Business, profiling women who have started their own enterprise. Today, we speak to journalist and author Claire Heaney who, when at home with her baby, started to write about women who start their own business. That interest has developed into her own section on business owners every week in the Herald Sun newspaper, and now, a book. Here's Claire:

Name: Claire Heaney

Name of book: 101 Ways to Kickstart Your Business Wilkinson Publishing, rrp. $29.95.

What inspired you to write the book?

They say every journalist has a book in them. With three children, and that stage the youngest a newborn, I was flat out finishing a sentence much less a story without even contemplating a book.
But while I was on maternity leave from the Herald Sun I was approached to see if I would like to do some freelance stories. for a new revamped business section of the paper. While people tend to buy the newspaper for the news and sport, as people have focussed increasingly on buying shares through various privatisations such as Telstra and as superannuation has become a real buzz word, people who may never have concerned themselves with finance pages are tracking how their investments are going. The launch of the Business Daily section was to reflect this. One element of this was the Business Owner section, pitched at small and medium businesses.
I took on the work and the section just grew like topsy. And while, after 25 years in journalism covering everything from politics to police rounds and courts, I'm as cynical as the next journo, I found the content really refreshing. I guess I probably more easily identified with the mums who, once they had kids, realised it was going to be tricky to slot back into a corporate workplace. And, for the most part, I don't think a lot of them wanted to do that anyway. But they still wanted to pursue something that would give them fulfilment. Some of them hatched businesses because they identified gaps in the market for baby services and products - think Delia Timms who launched findababysitter because she had trouble getting carers or Melanie Grant who launched Snugglebum because she had trouble finding cosy pjso for the littlies.
Anyway, after doing this section for some months I was approached by Michael Wilkinson who was keen to publish a book covering these small and medium enterprises. I tossed around some concepts and decided to write 101 Ways to Kickstart Your Business.

Maybe you could explain to readers what it is about?

As the names suggests it is 101 ideas or tips, if you like, to apply to your existing business or if you are planning to launch a business include them in your business plan.
Alongside each tip I have included a real life business example in which the suggestion has been used to great effect. It might be a suggestion about using a website and then I might include a business that has found that their website opened up their business to places they never imagined.
For instance, Caroline Hume, who developed the Cuddlefish range of buoyancy suits and swimwear, the impact on her business of a website was remarkable. A well constructed website belies the fact that you may be sitting around the kitchen table running the business. Everyone can look professional and it does create a more level playing field.

How will people running small businesses find it useful?

I think, from the feedback I have already received, that 101 will be useful for people wanting to sack the boss and go it alone or even those in business who really want a bit of a boast. Maybe they have stalled and want a bit of inspiration. I've had some emails from a few people that have told me that they are working through some of the marketing tips. Just basic and cheap stuff like getting magnetic signs promoting their business for their car or getting a flyer together and putting it around the neighbourhood to promote their services.
I think it is pretty accessible and I would like to think that people will hopefully keep going back to it and picking out initiatives that might be handy for their businesses..

Does it feature lots of case studies?

Yes there are plenty of case studies and I could have included even more. Maybe I could use them for the next edition. In my past life as a books editor at the Herald Sun and as an editor of this Business Owner section, I get plenty of books over my desk. But I wanted this to be really practical. I think too often the books are full of jargon and theory. My book is pretty basic. It's fully of lots of suggestions and I have illustrated them by including one or more businesses that show how that can be applied to a business.
It might be the importance of choosing a good business name. One that sounds good but also you need to make sure it is registered. Bayside business Puppy Phat started off as Lush Puppy until the owner was warned to change to name or be sued.

Also I note time and time again that start ups and small businesses just don't have the marketing dollars to match the big end of town. But using some practical and simple strategies such as networking, adoptng good branding, building business partnership, joining trade associations, adopting loyalty programs and concentrating on keeping existing customers happy, they can punch well above their weight.

What's next in terms of book plans?

I am nearly finished a book on fundraising which is another of my passions. You name it. Organising trivia nights, raffles, mother's day stalls, sausage sizzles ... I have done it. It's a great way to contribute to the various organisations your children attend. I still need to do some work on this so maybe next year.
I reckon I could write a book a year but time is the real killer.

From your research, what do you think the biggest challenges are for women starting a small business?

I think often women go into a business without a real idea of where they see that business going. This can be a real problem if they have gone into partnership with a buddy and they both have different visions for the business.

One might see it as a hobby in which they can devote two or three days a week while another may have more ambitious plans to take on the world. There are issues where one might be upset because the partner doesn't want to live and breathe the business and they may not agree on how much money they want to invest into the business. I've encountered some pretty sticky partnership splits.

Some businesses I return to in a column I call Rewind and from time to time the partnership has completely disintergrated.

Also time management is a real problem when women are running home-based businesses. It is OK for women who have a partner who may earn good income and be able to pay for a nanny to look after the children. But for others who can't do that they are trying to fit in half an hour here and there which means they feel they are working on the business all day for no real reward.
I guess, like anything, you have to be energetic and dedicated which can be difficult if you have been up all night with a sick baby.

But it is important to get out and about whether you attend networking events or trade shows or cold call shops to see if they will stock your goods.

Who have you found inspiring from the research?

I think the one I go back to most often in terms of women is Carolyn Creswell. I love her story. She was 18 and at uni, working part time for a family who had a boutique muesli making business. They decided to sell and she scraped together $1000 or so to buy Carman's Fine Foods. Today she has two kids and is based in Cheltenham running a business that turns over something like $15million a year. She runs a family friendly business and is exporting. She's a real poster girl and also happy to mentor other people.

Another one is Megan Misso who runs Sweet by Nature. She was on maternity leave and started baking biscuits. Now she's cooking up a storm from a purpose built factory in Heidelberg.

What is a typical working day for you like?

I officially work three days at the Herald Sun. I tend to put in a 12 hour day on a Tuesday as my husband has the day off. Wednesday is just a normal day preparing my pages for publication on a Thursday.

During the other days I tend to administer my emails from home or it might be easier for me to do an interview on a day off if it is close to my home. I tend, because of time constraints, to do most of my interviews via the telephone. I find because of the internet and email I can be well briefed on a person and when I interview them I can just cut to the chase.

I would say I get about a third of my stories from word-of-mouth. For instance, I new shop in my suburb Richmond interested me. I popped in and just got chatting to Guava Jelly owner Jo Prior. Being nosey I asked her what she did before she opened the vintage emporium. She told me she was a ceo but when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer decided life was too short. She wanted to follow her passion. I did a story on her. I love those sorts of real stories. i hope she does well in every sense.

How do you balance everything?

With much difficulty. My husband, John, who also is a journalist, is a fantastic husband and father. But I am forever chasing my tail,. This year I am trying to say NO more often which is really hard for a gult ridden lapsed Catholic Virgo. I am also trying to streamline my life and yes my New Year's Resolution was to get a cleaner which I haven't done yet.

Your advice to mothers thinking about going into business?

Have a plan. Be practical. Have childcare, Manage your time. Do plenty of market research. Network.Any other good resources you recommend? I love the Small Business Mentoring Service www.sbms.org.au. it is made up of volunteers who have retired but want to give something back. They are great and offer really low cost mentoring. Also the State Government has some great advice on its website www.business.vic.gov.au. It also has a great small business festival called Energise Enterprise which runs in August. A booklet will be in the Herald Sun on July 1 but there will be a link on the business website.

Where or how can readers by the book?

It retails for $29.95 but they get it direct from me by emailing me claireheaney@iinet.net.au for $25 posted to them.

Why Gran was a Greenie

2008-06-14T11:19:00.003+10:00

For Melbourne readers of Baysidemama, my green living column is in today's Herald Sun Home magazine. This week I'm looking at why your Gran was a greenie and all the great things she did which make a lot of sense now (think carpet sweepers, nanna shopping trolleys and natural cleaners).

I love possums

2008-06-12T13:28:00.005+10:00

This is our possum box which I had installed in one of our front trees when we moved into this house. I love possums. I am amazed by their intelligence and ability to adapt to what for them, is usually a very hostile urban environment.
What I don't love are the numnuts who think they have no right to exist in urban territory and keep ripping down their habitat and then complain because they eat their precious gardens.

If we didn't razor blocks of land and get rid of all hints of native foliage, perhaps the possums wouldn't be driven to eating the roses.

There are reports that in parts of my region - which used to be famous for its bushy streets - possums are starving because developers have gotten away with taking out so many trees.
So to all those who complain about them, I say, go away and plant a banksia tree!

I put this box in because when we moved in, we had a family of ringtail possums (for overseas readers, these are the smaller of the possum breed) living in the roof and they were making a wee bit of noise and were a trifle smelly and I was not enjoying their 4am wakeup call. So I got in an expert who gently lured them out of my roof over a series of nights with food and successfully relocated them to this possum box.

Tucked away in this box - we checked again on the weekend - are two ringtails who curl up and sleep the day away in there. They have made it most cosy, filling it with leaves to keep warm.

Every evening they wake and then take a walk along my side fence to feed on the trees in the backyard. It's a fine balance of nature and urban life and a much better lesson to teach kids than the alternative - eradicate all remnants of nature.

And don't even get me started on the mass slaugter of kangaroos in the name of food, sport and 'management' of numbers.

Baby possum, originally uploaded by wollombi. Photo: Peter Firminger.

2008-06-09T11:30:00.004+10:00

A colleague of mine, Claire Heaney, who runs the Business Owner section of the Herald Sun, has asked me to let readers know about a survey she is running for women in small business. She is inviting people to fill out the survey and go into the draw to win a range of prizezs (including a $5000 Herald Sun advertising package). Here are the details from Claire:

SMALL Business is big business in Victoria.
There are something like 1.2million small businesses operating in Australia.
And many of these micro businesses are run by women.
Women like you and me.
Many of them have pursued a career and then when they have started a family they have realised, often painfully, that a corporate career in incompatible with their new goals to be a wife and mother to their growing brood.
Often they have been able to tap into the skills and networks and build a new business. It might be exploiting their well honed skills or perhaps going out on a limb.
Perhaps, in their new role as a mother, they have seen a gap in the market and developed a service or product to make life a bit easier.
It is this segment of the small business population that needs to have a voice.
They have the opportunity with the Herald Sun-RACV Business Insurance survey currently being run at www.heraldsun.com.au/businesssurvey
The Small Business Issues Survey builds on the Business Owner pages that appear in the Herald Sun each Thursday.
The survey, open until June 12, will take about 10 minutes.
Those successfully completing the survey will go into the draw to receive a great prize hamper.
The package includes a $5000 Herald Sun advertising package, a conference at beautiful Inverloch to the value of $4000 and a Tom Tom GPS navigation system to make sure you are on the right track.

Some recent Flickr favourites: with some touches of nice warm pink on a cold winter's day

2008-06-06T14:41:00.006+10:00

1. Selina Lake - Flowers, 2. Selina Lake - Bazaar Style, 3. Selina Lake - Magnets, 4. Selina Lake - Pink Summer Room, 5. Selina Lake - Flowers, 6. Selina Lake - Blossom, 7. Selina Lake - lanterns, 8. Selina Lake - Sugarpot, 9. Blue Jay, 10. Untitled, 11. a clash of seasons, 12. Fruity Pebbels, 13. A big beauty showing off her fall color, 14. . . . ., 15. la ballade of lady and bird, 16. Williamsburg Bottle Birds '07 (House Wren)

Many of the top few images are styled by Selina Lake, one of the authors of the new book Bazaar Style (see second from left, top row). I was given this book for mother's day and it is stunning - full of lots of inspiration and colour.

World Blog Tour: Sweden

2008-06-04T12:51:00.003+10:00

Blogged by Poppy Talk, originally uploaded by Chez Larsson. Courtesy; Chez Larsson Flickr site.

Onwards with my world blog tour this week. Today's destination is Chez Larsson, which I discovered only recently. She has a wonderful eye, and runs a great blog and Flickr site showcasing her very creative and stylish home. I like all her tips on organising, showcasing collections, etc. How are the miniature chairs (above, from Chez Larsson's Flickr site) for a fab little collection?

World Blog tour: Morocco

2008-06-02T13:03:00.006+10:00

Table setting in Marrakech, originally uploaded by moroccanmaryam.
Photo: courtesy of My Marrakesh Flickr site.

This week I thought I'd shift focus from local life and take a virtual tour of some of my favourite blog and web sites around the world. Some I enjoy the writing, others the photography. I find I'm drawn towards those involving lovely design, art, interiors and nature.

This one - My Marrakesh - is a recent find. I love the colour and descriptions of life in Morocco - somewhere I have always wanted to visit. The writer is an American woman who has moved to Marrakesh with her young family to build what looks like a stunning small hotel.

World blog tour: USA

2008-06-02T12:33:00.005+10:00

, originally uploaded by liquidskyarts. Photo: Courtesy of liquidskyarts Flickr site.

Continuing with my world tour of lovely blogs, this one is one of the first design blogs I found and loved: www.liquidskyarts.com

The blogger - based in the US - is a gifted artist who also has an amazing eye for photography and all that translates to stunning images of her home as well. Lots of colour and inspiration.

A favourite from Flickr

2008-06-02T12:23:00.001+10:00

sakura3, originally uploaded by ricco-t.

Just love the colour in this picture.

Seagull at a winter's lapping shore

2008-06-01T15:52:00.001+10:00

Seagull at a winter's lapping shore, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

It's official - the first day of winter and Melbourne has put on a show of its archtypical winter colours - cool, pale grey seas and blue skies. This seagull was taking a late afternoon rest along the shores of the marine sanctuary at Rickett's Point on Sunday afternoon, watching the people and dogs stroll by.

Becalmed on a Saturday morning

2008-05-31T13:47:00.001+10:00

becalmed4, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

I have to say this is one very serene way to spend a Saturday morning. I snapped this pic along the shores of Port Phillip Bay as the stunning autumn morning light turned the sea a deep pale grey-blue. I think this guy looks like he's fishing but hard to tell!

The Three Wise Men of Bayside Council

2008-05-26T15:56:00.009+10:00

When I had my first child, I used to walk past the shell that was once the Black Rock Maternal and Child Health Centre and think about how nice (no, how necessary) it was for us to still have a health centre in the area.

Instead, like all mums in that area at the time, it was a case of getting in the car and driving to a wonderful, but very stretched centre in another suburb because the Kennett Government in its seek and destroy mission to wipe out community services, had deemed this centre as no longer necessary for mums. These were the years when visits to maternal health centres were cut back to a far more fiscally restrained timeline.

Its closure, to me, represented a far wider issue relating to services for mothers and children: how services had been cut back to bare necessities.

Something I had already been reminded of in the major public hospital where I was booted out after the birth - as per standard policy - before I had even learned to breastfeed my child. Sent home with severe mastitis which tooks months of antibiotics to clear up, because my time in hospital was offically over and they didn't really want to know. An irony really when I ended up back there in casualty with the mastitis - was I any less of a strain on the health system there than in staying another night or two in the maternity ward? Which health policy planners came up with the idea anyway that women should leave hospital before breastfeeding has been properly established? No wonder we have such low rates of breastfeeding. But I'm getting off topic - that's another story.

I was reminded again of this dearth of funding for early childhood when it came time to enrol my first child in three year old kinder. Fabulous kinder programs, amazing and dedicated teachers, beautiful facilities, but limited funding meant that compared to many international and even interstate models, our three year olds are not getting the hours they need in an early learning environment. Unless, we pay privately of course.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that I, like many new mums, learned very early that
much more could be done to support the health and wellbeing of new mothers and babies. Something Kevin Rudd has been alluding to recently, with talk of more money being injected into early childhood.

However, in its wisdom, Bayside Council is wanting to go against this hopeful new avenue for early childhood and instead sell this important public asset. I've written about this before and how important this building is. Three Bayside Councillors agree and are against the sale. Stand up and take a bow:

Cr Alex del Porto
James Long
Clifford Hayes

If you're in the area and believe in our maternal health centres, come along to the rally and sausage sizzle:
When: Saturday May 31 from 10.30am - 12 noon
Where: Black Rock Pre-School, 55 Bluff Road, Black Rock

For more information, the campaign to save the centre now has a website: www.BlackRockAction.org

Some recent vintage market finds for kids' rooms

2008-05-21T11:16:00.005+10:00

I have a serious market addiction (I keep telling myself that at least it's not an addiction to anything bad) and that means most Sunday mornings I find myself at one of Melbourne's fabulous markets. I steer away from Camberwell these days as the prices are high and you never really feel you've found that great bargain find anymore, although it is sometimes worth a wander just to look at some of the amazing wares there. No, my stomping grounds are the more suburban markets. Recently, these are some of my finds for kids' rooms......

Vintage plastic

Vintage plastic collection

Old wooden boat shelves - perfect for display

Amazing vintage children's desk

These aren't vintage but I recently found these great little tin animals and thought they were very sweet

Parenting then and now: How your mother did it compared to you

2008-05-20T12:39:00.004+10:00

I was talking to some friends recently about how many of the choices we have about parenting were just alien concepts a few decades ago. But is everything so much better now? The question has inspired some then and now comparisons of motherhood. Feel free to leave your own comparisons in the comments section......

Then
Billowing maternity smocks in flurid florals
Now
Figure hugging lycra and maternity denim

Then
Feeding them basic mash and meat or a mashed version of whatever the family is eating
Now
Gnocchi, risotto and organic vegies.

Then
Cloth nappies and many, many hours of boiling and washing them
Now
The rise of the organic disposable nappy. Drop them in your bin guilt-free!

Then
Toilet training as soon as possible (often around age one) to get them (and you) out of the dreaded nappy routine
Now
It happens when it happens (to our own parents’ horror) just so long as we get them over the hump before kinder starts.

Then
Regular visits to your maternal health nurse
Now
A tightly pared back health visit schedule thanks to funding cuts

Then
Bottle feeding with sweetened condensed milk for babies
Now
An overwhelming choice: Soy formula, milk with extra omega vitamins, iron-enriched formulas, the list goes on. Then there’s the new range toddler formulas……

Then
Breastfeeding in private
Now
The right to breastfeed anywhere (well, at least in theory)

Then
Leaving work with your first child and often never returning
Now
Mothers who are expected to run two full time jobs – the kids and the paid employment.

Then
Your bouncing bundle of joy sits in the bassinette on the back seat of the car
Now
A car seat for every occasion and circumstance

Greening your pet

2008-05-16T12:55:00.001+10:00

Cat in the light, originally uploaded by Baysidemama.

For those Baysidemama readers in Melbourne who happen to read Saturday's Herald Sun, my new green living column is in again tomorrow in the Home mag. This week I'm looking at how to reduce the eco footprint of your pets. You'd be surprised just how much greenhouse gas your average Fido produces each year (although to put it in perspective, it's still a lot less than the average human).......

Autumn colour from the Dandenong Ranges

2008-05-15T08:32:00.006+10:00

For out of town readers, the Dandenong Ranges are about an hour's drive from central Melbourne and are renowned for the incredible forests of gum trees. There are also a lot of exotic plants and these yield an amazing display of colour every autumn......

Kids clothes sale at Little by Little

2008-05-14T19:41:00.000+10:00

3 Day Sale

30% OFF ALL Fred Bare

30% OFF ALL Big & Fiona

30% OFF ALL Crocs

Thursday 15th May, Friday 16th May &

Saturday 17th May

Little by Little

18 Bluff Road Black Rock

Infant welfare centres and their role in women's lives: An interview with Heather Sheard

2008-05-06T13:36:00.019+10:00

Black Rock's historic infant health centre (above). Photo: Courtesy Heather Sheard

The fight to save the site of Black Rock's historic maternal and child health centre is heating up, with Bayside Council giving the local community a couple of weeks to respond to its plans to sell off the site and put the funds towards renovation of council offices.

While in some ways a local issue, the history of the site is part of a national women's history and the amazing role these centres have played in improving child health in this country.

Recently historian and Bayside resident Heather Sheard made contact with me as she'd heard about the plans for the site. Heather Sheard is the author of a history of baby health centres - All the Little Children: The Story of Victoria's Baby Health Centres. Below Heather details the history of this and other centres.

How did you come to write your book?

I’ve always been interested in the buildings – especially those like the one at Black Rock with its bow fronted Art Deco look. A few years ago, I looked for something to read about the Centres and was amazed that I could not find anything when these centres were and are a hive of women’s work.

When I retired I set about writing a history and after noticing time slip easily by, enrolled in a Masters degree at the University of Melbourne to give me deadlines and encouraging supervisors!

Two years ago I was giving a powerpoint presentation to mark the 80th Anniversary of the creation of the Department of Infant Welfare – now Maternal and Child Health, and the CEO of the Victorian Municipal Association suggested that this should be published and that they would fund it. Eighteen months later we have a book called All the Little Children The Story of Victoria’s Baby health Centres.

500 copies were printed and they are apparently almost all sold.

What do you know of the history of the Black Rock centre - for example, when it was built?

World War Two began eight days after the foundation stone for the Black Rock Baby Health Centre was laid by the Sandringham’s Mayor, Fred Yott on the 26th of August 1939.

Fortunately this did not halt the building works and the Mayoress Mrs AJ Steel opened the new centre in November with Sister Ada Bowie in charge. The Sun News Pictorial on November 2nd 1939 led with the headline "Babies by the armful were brought by mothers to the new Baby Health Centre at Black Rock.." and The Age wrote of "Large, light giving windows and well-equipped rooms…".

Dr Vera Scantlebury Brown, Director of Infant Welfare, opened the new Centre and spoke of the importance of Baby Health Centres to the development of the physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects of a child's growth.

The Sandringham Historical Society has a baby’s card from the centre for Rosia Boyd, who may have been a member of the famous Boyd family who had houses in both Edward Street Sandringham and Surf Avenue Beaumaris.

Before 1949, funds to build centres had to be raised by the local community, usually by women and the cost of £1750- was an enormous effort on the heels of the Great Depression.

Black Rock’s Baby Health Centre is an iconic structure in the Moderne style with a projecting semi-circular bay window front, floor to ceiling steel framed windows and steel letters proudly proclaiming its name.

The City of Bayside’s Heritage Review lists the Centre as deserving of Heritage Overlay Protection and notes that it is of historical and aesthetic significance. Even more importantly, the Centre is a significant reminder of Bayside’s social and women’s history, being a prominent example of women’s work both as mothers and Baby Health Centre Sisters.

2008 is the seventieth anniversary of the women of Black Rock approaching the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association and the local Sandringham Council to provide infant welfare services to the area.

How significant is it as a site?
It seems to me that its significance is twofold. Firstly because its history encompasses years of work by women and mothers in lobbying, fundraising and mothering as well as the professional work of the Sisters.

Secondly its significance lies in that it is a community resource which belongs to local families and any redevelopment of the site should acknowledge local families’ needs.

You mentioned most of these early centres were created with community funds? What implications does that now have for councils?

Up until the second World War Two, the Sister’s salaries were paid by combined local council and state government funding. Buildings were the responsibility of the local community and invariably meant intensive fund raising along with council contributions. The implications for Council are interesting. I wonder who gave them the land in the first place? Over the years these centres are just assumed I suppose, to ‘belong’ to Council and they may in fact have bought the land in the first place. But many centres have been and are being demolished, so Council ownership is just assumed I think.

At the very least if they end up demolishing the building there should be some record at the site of what was there!

What is its role in the history of women in Victoria?

Baby Health Centres were begun by a small group of women in 1917 during the first World War to attempt to counter the high rates of infant mortality that still occurred throughout Melbourne and country Victoria.

Until 1926, the voluntary groups, the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association and later the Society for the Health of the Women and Children of Victoria ran the centres in church halls, council rooms, RSL halls, CWA rooms, Bush Nursing Hospitals – in fact anything they could get their hands on. Sisters’ salaries were funded by joint Council/State government funding.

Richmond was the first centre and first council to be involved.

The Centres have always attracted very high levels of patronage in Victoria and have become an integral part of local communities. Their history is also that of Victorian families, mothers and Baby Health Centre/Infant Welfare/Maternal and Child Health nurses and outstanding women like Dr Vera Scantlebury Brown, first Director of the Department, 1926-1946 and Sister Muriel Peck, first Assistant Director, 1927-1944.

Are you going to be engaged in the fight to save it?
I would like to be.

What would you like to see happen at the site?
The pressing and complicated issues of family and children’s services are currently being highlighted at the national level. For Council to consider selling a community resource built for families to fund office renovations, is entirely inappropriate and simplistic. How about a state-of-the-art integrated day and occasional child-care, pre-school, playgroup, and maternal and child health centre? Now that would be a new icon!

Heather Sheard is the author of All the Little Children The Story of Victoria’s Baby Health Centres published in 2007 by the Municipal Association of Victoria

You can contact Heather at: h.sheard@bigpond.com

Kids clothing sale this Friday

2008-05-05T12:36:00.003+10:00

Baysidemama reader Orla has contacted me about a sale she's having of her children's clothing range this Friday.

Orla runs Romi Clothing and is selling this season's stock (sizes 000-14) this Friday May 9 from 10am - 6pm. Where: 212 Conventry St, South Melbourne. If you'd like more information contact Orla on: 0421 489 890.

Mamas mean business profile: Delia Timms from Find A Babysitter

2008-05-01T20:01:00.013+10:00

Many Baysidemama readers have expressed an interest in more articles on women who have set up businesses and advice on how they did it. With that in mind, I plan to run some regular profiles on women who have done just that - the series is called Mamas mean business.

To kick things off, we are profiling Delia Timms, who, with two very small children at her feet, set up Findababysitter. Based on a simple premise - that parents would appreciate a one stop online site to research nannies and babysitters, the site quickly took off across Australia.

I'll let Delia tell you the rest of her story......

Delia and her two children (above)

Name: Delia Timms

Business: Find A Babysitter.com.au www.findababysitter.com.au

How did you set up your business, when and where did you get the idea:
The idea was sparked by personal need after the birth of my two children (18 mths apart!). I spent many months on childcare waiting lists and turned to nannies and babysitters for help. I was surprised and disappointed by the cost, time and inefficiency involved in finding a nanny using traditional ways: agencies, classified ads or word-of-mouth. Then in late 2004 I stumbled across an American web-site that introduced parents to babysitters. I realized that this was a great concept and just what I personally needed. I also had a lot of friends with similar childcare needs and knew it would be valuable to a range of parents. My husband took time off from his IT job and together we created the site. We launched Find A Babysitter (FAB) in mid 2005 and it took off around the nation.

I have read you set it up on maternity leave - how did that juggle go?
I began writing my business plan with a 9mth old and 27mth old. I didn’t have any formal maternity leave (I had been working as a locum speech pathologist part-time after my first child was born). So in some ways this was liberating, since I didn’t have a job waiting for me on a set date. But in other ways it was stressful. I was very aware of financial constraints and was careful to research all the business establishment costs. As far as juggling the children with my business start-up – I used some organizational skills, outsourcing and multitasking. I employed a nanny part-time to allow me to work uninterrupted. I have a very supportive husband and his input was crucial (on both the business and the domestic fronts). I also multi-tasked like any experienced mum does. I crammed work into any other spare minutes and hours, I emailed during naptimes, conducted phone calls during PlaySchool, and worked late into the night if needed. (Editor's note: I wonder how many businesses and careers have been built on the strength of the PlaySchool window of opportunity? I'd say a fair few!)

What is it like to run a business and be a mother:
It has been a very rewarding and exciting journey. But at the same time I have had to learn how to balance work and family. Running a business affords you great freedom and flexibility. It gives you the opportunity to work around the children, for which I am very grateful. However the responsibility of working for yourself can also take over if unchecked. The first year or so of the business I was very absorbed in work and would think about it and talk about it endlessly! Over time I have gradually regained a healthy balance and put boundaries on my work hours. This has happened as the business has matured and there are less unexpected events. It has also happened as I have developed my skills and confidence.

How do you balance that (for example what sort of childcare do you use):
Over the years I have been fortunate to have the services of a nanny for two days per week. I really like the 1:1 model of care, the flexibility this gives me (with hours etc) and the affordability (with two kids). This year my daughter has started school and my son has started kinder. This gives me some small chunks of time! I still have a nanny one day per week and I have just started my son one day per week at a community childcare centre.

How did you grow the business:
We launched the site in Melbourne and thought we’d ‘pilot’ it for three months before rolling out to other cities. However the site rapidly took itself off around Australia and within six months we were in every capital city! The growth of the business was driven by demand. Parents were (and still are) desperate for an efficient and affordable way to find nannies and babysitters.

What is a typical working day like:
I love lists and ticking boxes, so I always have an updated list of things to do by my computer. My basic daily work revolves around customer service emails and phone calls, doing marketing & PR, quality control (skimming over babysitter profiles and job postings), business monitoring and planning. With some motivation supplied by the odd cup of tea and tim tam!

How do people use your site - and what does it offer them:
Find A Babysitter.com.au is a web-site that helps parents find babysitters and nannies. It gives parents an affordable efficient way to meet carers. There are three powerful ways to find a FAB carer on our site – parents can email/text carers from the extensive database, parents can post jobs online to attract applicants and the site can send email notifications to parents when new carers join in their area. The site also has lots of additional features that are helpful with the process: My Shortlist (to list your favourites), My Comments (to keep notes conveniently online), Sitter Ratings (like eBay, so parents can share valuable feedback with each other). The site just provides an introduction, then the parents interview and select their own carer. Parents simply pay a one-off fee to join the site. Then parents pay the carers directly. There is no ‘agency’ and no other surcharges or overheads. This keeps the costs down and gives parents the freedom to choose.

What have been the big lessons learned from setting up your own business:
1. Get some professional advice and assistance. You can’t be an expert at everything, so make sure you get professional input with areas of need.

2. Market research is vital. I engaged a business coach with a marketing background to guide me with this. I think this step is the most crucial indicator for a start-up. It doesn’t matter how wonderful your idea is, if you don’t have a definable and significant market then your business will struggle.

3. Sales & Marketing. You really need to invest time &/or money to tell your target market about your product or service. A fantastic product won’t walk out the door or rush off the shelf without any marketing. You don’t need to spend lots of money on marketing. You just need to plan your approach professionally. Finally I discovered that a great business can be built on a shoestring budget if it is pursued with persistence, passion and the right people.

Your advice for other mothers thinking of balancing babies with a business - large or small:
Go for it! There is nothing to lose. To maintain a balance make sure that you schedule time in the week or month for the kids (of course!), yourself (for example exercise, reading, self), your significant others (partner, parents, girlfriends). Don’t let some things get swallowed up by all the other competing priorities. By giving each of these areas fair attention then you’ll be a happier, healthier and wiser person in business.

Thanks Delia for your time. Delia's site again is: www.findababysitter.com.au

And if you know of someone you think would make a great profile, please let us know at: baysidemama@gmail.com

Choosing a school: questions to ask

2008-04-24T15:36:00.007+10:00

after school special, originally uploaded by iboy_daniel. Picture: Courtesy Flickr.

Choosing a school for the first time is exciting and unnerving and in some ways overwhelming. After all, it's impossible to know just what a school is really like - and how your child will fit in - until they actually start going there.

But one important part of the research is the school tour - and in Melbourne at least, many of these are just about to start for parents considering schools for next year.

I've spoken to a lot of people lately about what questions you need to ask when comparing schools, and thought I would put together my list so far. Please feel free to add to it in the comments section - it is by no means all-encompassing:

School checklist:

Class sizes: What are average class sizes, does the school set its own caps on numbers?

Are there extra support people in bigger classes?

Does the school do composite grades?

How many classes at each year level and how big is the school?

What assistance is there for children with particular needs? Is there extra help? Are there enrichment programs?

What sort of art, music, drama, sport and other extra curricular classes are there. How often do children get to do these activities each week?

Parental involvement - what opportunities are there, especially at younger levels?

What is the school's policy on bullying and other social and behavioural issues?

Is the retention rate good in older grades or do a lot of students leave?

If it's a primary (elementary school for American readers) which secondary schools do children go to from this school?

Languages - what's offered and importantly, how often do students get access to a language teacher?

What's the library like and what sort of access is there to computers?

Is there a school nurse on site?

Is there before and after school care?

Is there good security on the grounds?

Is there a good ratio to male and female teachers?

Please feel free to add any more suggestions in the comments section. And by the way, how great is the light in this photo of an old American school bus courtesy of Daniel from Flickr.

New winter range at Townmouse

2008-04-23T11:14:00.003+10:00

I have long loved the childrenswear range at Townmouse.
I find the clothes are really beautiful classic cuts and what's more - longlasting. And on top of that, it is a Melbourne-based business.
Highlights of the Townmouse range include great skirts for girls and I also love her classic boys' shirts.
Anyway, head on over and have a look at the new winter range she's just put online this week: www.townmouse.com.au

What's with the teen attitude?

2008-04-21T17:11:00.000+10:00

My son is only a toddler and yet over the last few weeks has been giving us a rather curious - and very amusing - display of what I would normally associate with hormonal teens.
No I'm not talking tantrums or screaming matches.
I'm talking about his newfound habit of racing into his room, declaring 'this is mine' and closing the door to shut everyone else out.
I have no idea where he saw this and at first I thought it was a one-off. When I carefully open his bedroom door again I find him grinning rather sheepishly, but sitting happily playing with his cars and trains.
Perhaps he's just a kid who's going to need lots of personal space!

Meeting tomorrow night to decide fate of Black Rock's historic site

2008-04-21T12:00:00.000+10:00

For those interested in the looming battle over the future of the historic Black Rock Maternal and Child Health centre site, there is a Council meeting tomorrow night - which is open to the public.

Judging by the meeting's agenda, it is clear the Council plans to go ahead with a sell-off of this site (see below for Baysidemama's previous article on this topic).

For those keen to come along, the meeting is at 7pm tomorrow night (Tuesday April 22) at the Brighton Town Hall.

My new column in the Herald Sun

2008-04-19T18:56:00.000+10:00

For those Baysidemama readers who live in Melbourne and happen to read the Herald Sun, my new column launched today.
It's in the paper's Home magazine and is called Greenhouse - all about green living ideas for our homes.
The idea is to take a very domestic approach to green issues - all the things we can do in our own backyard. Today's piece was on fellow blogger Nichola Prested (www.nikkishell.typepad.com) and the amazing things she does at home - from recycling to sewing to gardening.

Anyway, the column runs fortnightly and the next one will look at how we can turn our parched patches of grass we call nature strips into wildlife corridors and beautiful gardens.

Unfortunately Home magazine is not online yet, but I'm told that's not too far away. So you'll just have to buy the paper!

Save Black Rock's historic site

2008-04-17T20:09:00.001+10:00

Under the Kennett Government the Black Rock Maternal and Child Health Centre, next to Black Rock Kindergarten on Bluff Road, was closed down, a sign at the time that the area's population was ageing. Mums in the area had to go to Sandringham or Beaumaris.

Now, with a booming population of young families in the area, what does the Council decide it will do? No, not re-open it or use the site to further develop much needed early childhood services. No, it is seriously looking at selling off the site, because according to councillor Derek Wilson, the Council believes it is now "surplus to requirements.''

Not only that, but the Council is talking about selling off part of the neighboring kindergarten's land as well!!

Hardly a reflection of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's focus on early childhood services and a push to improve access to three-year old kindergarten.

This area already has a major problem with access to three-year-old kindergarten places, not to mention a need to expand its Maternal and Child Health Services.

So here's a radical idea - why doesn't the council RE-OPEN a Black Rock branch of the maternal health centre. Or, even more radical, expand the kindergarten to give more families access to places - after all study after study shows just how important pre-school is for children in terms of their long-term educational prospects.

Baysidemama contacted Cr Derek Wilson who says he is "keeping an open mind and I know a lot of people are really unhappy with the idea.''

Well the Council is going ahead this Monday night with a vote on whether to formally advertise the proposal and seek public comment.

He also says the Council prefers a hub model of childhood services based in central locations. That is however , bad luck for the every expanding number of families who live around the Black Rock and Beaumaris area who need these services nearby.

There are petitions circulating around the Black Rock shops and the kinder and Sandringham Maternal Health Centre - please sign them. And make your thoughts heard by voting in our poll (see column to the right).

We'll have more on this over the next few days, so stay tuned.

And remember Kevin '07 is saying yes to more early childhood services - not less!

This is what every nature strip in Australia should look like

2008-04-08T20:56:00.002+10:00

This is what our nature strips should be about - native trees and grasses which are drought proof and also act as amazing wildlife corridors through our suburban streets.
Really, why would you want a patch of dried grass when you could have this?
These photos are of a local Bayside nature strip which features three pink flowering gums. Underneath are a selection of native grasses.
The owner says the gums are always full of very happy native birds like the lorikeets pictured here.
Really what a much more environmental approach to public land - not to mention beautiful.

The best ever holiday house?

2008-04-06T17:23:00.000+10:00

How's this for a holiday house. It's on Victoria's coastline with views across Bass Strait. I imagine it would be eternally interesting to watch the changes in the ocean from all those windows - and Bass Strait is certainly a patch of water with lots of excitement (read storms). I like the aqua too.

Beware the compost door

2008-04-05T21:36:00.000+11:00

These signs caught my eye on recent ramblings......

It's springtime in some corners of the world

2008-03-31T16:06:00.001+11:00

, originally uploaded by H@Ru.

Power foods: What to put in the shopping trolley each week

2008-03-30T15:48:00.002+11:00

There are some foods which should form the mainstay of any supermarket shop. They are the 'power foods' - the ones which are packed full of good things. Below, fitness trainer Tinika van Dort sets out what you should stack in your trolley.

Broccoli: high in fibre, broccoli will keep your body regular. Steam, boil or microwave until tender so you retain vitamin C and folate.

Spinach: packed full of goodness spinach contains betacarotene, fibre, vitamin C, E and K and several of the vitamin B group. Spinach also contains potassium, magnesium a little iron and two antioxidants. Include spinach in your diet 3 to 4 times a week – throw a handful of baby spinach leaves in to a stir-fry or whip up a salad.

Blueberries: Blueberries contain plant pigments that destroy free radicals that damage DNA. A punnet of blue berries contains very little calories and virtually no fat however is full of vitamins and minerals.

Soy beans: Containing natural plant hormones that mimic the female hormone oestrogen and as such are valuable to women going through menopause. It can also lowers bad LDL cholesterol and prevents arteries from clotting and provides fibre, omega-3 fats, protein and various minerals.

Almonds: Containing essential nutrients, a handful of almonds provides nearly 80% of your daily vitamin E intake – a key antioxidant. Almonds are also known to lower blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease so make these your favourite afternoon snack.

Green tea: My favourite! Studies show that green tea can help to reduce heart problems, may prevent several cancers and maintain bone density in older people. The antioxidants group flavonoids in green tea are responsible for this. Green tea is a low caffeine hot beverage option, having one third to half the caffeine in coffee.

Salmon: Omega-3 fats from oil fish are the ultimate anti-ageing nutrient. They assist in maintaining eye sight, lower blood pressure and triglycerides. Eat salmon or other oily fish (fresh or canned) 2 to 3 times a week.

Lamb: Lean lamb contains vitamin B12, B6 and folic acid as well as providing a healthy source of protein. Lamb also contains iron and zinc which prevents anaemia and builds a strong immune system respectively.

Eggs: One of the few food sources which contain vitamin D, a vitamin that most young people get through sunshine. Vitamin D boosts your immune system and works with calcium to prevent osteoporosis.

Yoghurt: More easily digested and absorbed than milk, yoghurt contains protein, vitamin B (especially riboflavin needed for eyes and skin) and calcium.

Oats: Oats are full of soluble fibre which lowers cholesterol, they have a low GI index of 42 which delivers carbohydrates slowly to the blood stream , they contain vitamin B (especially thiamin and niacin) as well as minerals including phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. This is the grain for you.

Rye: A much better option that white bread alternatives, rye is another low GI option, it is high in soluble fibre and contains more antioxidants that wheat including vitamin E. Next time you are in the supermarket pop some rye bread in to your shopping trolley.

Extra virgin olive oil: containing good ‘monounsaturated’ fats, this is the best heart protector option. Spend a little more in the supermarket and choose a cold pressed, green tinged olive oil – as it has not been heated it contains more antioxidants which thin the blood and keep it free flowing. Add it to salads and char grilled veggies.

Some other items to consider include cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, garlic and lemon, these all contain properties which can aid a healthy body and taste good too. Enjoy.

If you have any recipes containing these foods why not send email them to: baysidemama@gmail.com and we would be happy to share them.

Artists market this Friday

2008-03-26T12:24:00.001+11:00

Don't forget if you're in the area that this Friday the Beaumaris Art Group is holding another of its successful Twilight Artists Market.
I have found both of these artworks, during Beaumaris Art Group sales. The watercolour is by local artist Valda Cumming and the rather whimsical wood, tin and paint creation is also by a local artist (although I'm not sure of his name). What I do know is that Ned Kelly was part of his ancestry and he enjoys exploring the Ned Kelly story in his work (and Ned's dog obviously).

Anyway there will be lots of work for sale, including sculpture, textiles, mosaic, felting, jewellery, basket weaving, creative clothing and handmade cards. Where: The Village Green, Beaumaris Art Group Studios, Community Centre, 84 Reserve Rd, Beaumaris. When: Friday March 28, 4-8pm.

Green living ideas blog roundup

2008-03-24T15:28:00.001+11:00

Green Roof, originally uploaded by pnwra. Here's a lovely example of a green roof from Canada.
Picture courtesy: Flickr.

I've read some interesting blog posts on green living ideas recently - many of them from Melbourne writers. So I thought I would do a tour of some of the great ideas I've come across.

Over at Republic of Moreland, talk has been about green roofs - or groofs as they are sometimes known as. The Republic has been experimenting with a green rooftop - first attempt was on top of the chook shed - and there is a nice little guide to where to find more information. Take a look here.

Over at Loobylu, Claire recently posted on what it was like to go a month without spending money on anything but necessities. I don't know about you, but I've still not given myself this challenge, although it might be a healthy way to break my serious magazine and takeaway coffee addiction. Claire went the whole month of February. Take a look here.

At Simply Living, it's been all about the chook and I am always inspired when I read this blog about what can be achieved in a typical backyard. For all you need to know about chooks in the garden and how many eggs they produce, have a look here.

And over at Nikki Shell, I always enjoy reading about Nikki's amazing recipes and am inspired by how much she creates from scratch, including her bread recipes. Take a look here.

Subscribe away (or Baysidemama gets techno savvy)

2008-03-23T21:47:00.000+11:00

Ok, Baysidemama has finally got with the technology program and installed a subscriber option - see top right. So get going and subscribe if you so desire!

Our neighbor's tree offers a canopy of summer shade (above)

Autumn's clear blue skies (above)

And finally, finally, finally, it may have been officially autumn for some time now, however in the last few days it has started to show its seasonal face.

Days are beginning with a chill in the air, followed by those wonderful sunny days with clear skies and slightly colder nights.

This magnificent tree, pictured top, is in our neighbour's yard but we enjoy its shade. And I noticed over the last week its leaves are starting to just turn a gentle shade of yellow.

I'm just not a hot weather person, so I say bring on the season!

All creatures great and small...and scary and deadly too

2008-03-22T18:34:00.000+11:00

This is one of the more wonderful visitors we have had to our urban backyards over the years.

In our previous home, every Spring a family of blue tongue lizards would emerge, complete with new babies, and sun themselves on our paved areas. One one occasion, one of the lizards got stuck down a clogged drainage area which was flooding fast, so we swooped it up and let it recover in the kids' cubbyhouse overnight.

They were always wonderful to watch, and used to like eating strawberries which the neighbours would feed the family as they went door to door. A zoologist lived up the road and would tend to their war wounds from time to time.

But I can't say all my encounters with wildlife have been calm ones over the years. In fact, when I look back, I may well have had more than my share of not so great encounters.

I have been bitten by an emu in Adelaide;
Found myself floating above a poisonous sea snake in Fiji (and of course falling off the lilo in shock);
Walked through a swarm of angry wasps in Cairns - well we were walking and the swarm just kind of appeared;
Been centimetres away from stepping on a scorpion in bare feet in Bali - and luckily pushed sideways at the last moment;
Seen way too many deadly snacks in built up places;
Swum through a swarm (pack, school?) of blue bottle jelly fish on the Sunshine Coast - and been doused in vinegar to relieve the pain;
And sustained a very weird and long-lasting spider bite on the leg which took a LONG time to heal.

Don't get me wrong, I am actually a big lover of nature and wildlife - although these days I am overly cautious about snakes and snake prone areas.

More Easter making fun

2008-03-21T10:08:00.000+11:00

In the last few days the kids have had fun making these foil painted easter eggs. We got the idea from Kids Craft Weekly, a regular online newsletter full of good craft ideas.

We just cut out egg sized pieces of cardboard, wrapped them in kitchen foil, then painted with acrylics and used the end of the paintbrush to make patterns. Very easy. The kids then wanted to turn them in to mobiles.

Here's the link to Kids Craft Weekly: www.kidscraftweekly.com

What's on this weekend

2008-03-14T13:01:00.002+11:00

There are quite a few things going on this weekend - but plan ahead carefully, it's going to be mightly hot again.
The Magnolia Fair boutique craft fair is on at Brighton Town Hall today and Saturday.
There will be lots of great handmade and hand-designed product.

The Keysborough Animal Shelter is once again experiencing a crisis in unwanted cat numbers and is holding another special cat adoption day - with special low adoption fees - to try and find homes for some of its special cats.

Beaumaris North Primary School has its mega fete on tomorrow (Saturday) from 9am, where there will also be a special art exhibition and sales. Entry via Wood Street, Beaumaris.

And the popular En Plein Air art competition will feature an exhibition of entries at Sandy Beach Community Centre on Saturday afternoon.

In between all that activity, try and fit in a nice cooling dip in the ocean, or a least some down time in a shaded corner!

Magnolia Square: www.magnoliasquare.com.au

Keysborough Animal Shelter: www.aaps.org.au

Early autumn by the Bay

2008-03-09T19:51:00.001+11:00

How great has the early evening weather been this weekend? There is the burnished fullness of early autumn to the coastline - the water is a deep steely blue and warm enough to be swimming until darkness (like these happy campers on Sunday night at Red Bluff Cliff, Black Rock, pictured above).

The evening light is starting to take on a soft brown hue.
The gardens have shed their summer blooms yet are still alive with the sounds of birds and insects and people are stepping out in the evenings - inhaling the last of the warm gentle breezes.

For more images from the weekend, click on the Flickr badge in the right hand column.

Happy long weekend and roll on more lovely autumn weather!

Magnolia Square (and handmade heaven) is coming Bayside

2008-03-07T12:05:00.003+11:00

Last November I ventured up to Malvern to the Magnolia Square Christmas fair and discovered a host of fantastic new retailers, designers and craftspeople.

Magnolia Square describes itself as a boutique retail fair and draws together a range of amazing wares - from childrenswear to art, homewares and all sorts of decorative effects for kids - dolls, toys, beanbags, fabulous library bags.

The difference is these products are original, mainly handcrafted or designed and not mass produced.

The good news is that in 2008 Magnolia Square is heading Bayside, to Brighton Town Hall to be exact. There are a host of retailers selling their wares. One of the businesses which caught my eye last year was Red Wagon, which sells a range of children's products, mostly vintage inspired, including dolls, name tags and lovely little cases.

So today Baysidemama profiles Danni, the brains behind Red Wagon, about family, inspiration and managing her growing business. And stay tuned, over the next week, Baysidemama will showcase some more of Magnolia Square.

When and how did Red Wagon start?
The business started about three years ago. I started painting as a method of relaxation, after getting treatment for OCD and severe post natal depression from the birth of my two boys. First the painting started, then I went on to doing cards and stationary, then before I knew it, I found myself sewing and the story continues. Who knows what I will do next.

Who is behind the label?
Just me. I run the whole business and hand make 95% of my products.

How extensive is your range now?
My range is quite big now, I bring in new items when I can, and slowly faze out the old.

Your most popular products?
All my products sell very well, my dolls have become a big seller, the dolls can be made especially for the customer, choosing their own hair, skin, clothing colour and even the name. They are a beautiful keepsake items and my keepsake boxes are always very popular.

What appeals to people about the new trend towards handmade and smaller craft retailers?
Well I think quality, individuality, and close customer relations is a major factor. I think personally with what I do....people love the way they can have a little input into what they are giving, and put there own personal touch with names etc.

Where do you draw your inspiration?
I would have to say all my creative inspiration comes from everything vintage, I love it!! And of course the three most special boys in my life, hubby Dave, and sons Josh 9, and Owen 4, they are my inspiration for life itself!

As a mother and business owner, what does a typical day involve?
A typical day for me starts at about 6am, in the office generally getting orders packed in boxes ready for the courier, then around 7.30 I have to concentrate on getting the boys ready for school/kinder, do breakfast, make lunches, then in the car and dropping off. Then back home and its constant phone calls, emails, orders and the most important thing, my production line. I have to make each order that comes in, then before I know it..... it's off to school/kinder pick up again! Once the kids are in bed I then work in my office until about 11.30pm. Ground hog day is the best way to sum it up. I work full-time on the weekend, as my husband can take control off the kids, and ohh did I forget to mention that cooking, cleaning, washing etc slots in between all the mayhem. I would say life is pretty full on, but I love it.

(Ed's note: a collective WOW, I imagine, from all our Mum readers at this point).

What will be the main Red Wagon products we can expect to see at Magnolia Square?
The focus will be on my dolls, and my new wooden blocks, and all the usual red wagon goodies will be there too.

Where is Red Wagon based and do you have a website?
We are in Narre Warren South, Victoria.
Visit: www.dannisdevinedesigns.com

Magnolia Square will be on at Brighton Town Hall on March 13, 14 and 15. For information on products and times visit: www.magnoliasquare.com.au

Mum in profile: Turning nap time into a new career

2008-03-04T12:35:00.000+11:00

One Melbourne Mum used her children's nap time to produce a winning short story. Interview: Clare Kennedy.

A tale of murder and mayhem set at a kindergarten – written by a Melbourne Mum, with a vivid imagination - has taken out the HarperCollins first prize in the Sisters of Crime 14th Scarlet Stiletto Awards.

The story 'Kill-dead-garten,' written by Kew mother-of-two Aoife Clifford (pictured above left), was the result of a New Year’s Eve resolution to enter a short story competition.

Motivated by concern that she was forgetting how to spell, Clifford was “gobsmacked” when her first short story since secondary school won first prize.

The national short story competition, which offers $3100 in prizes, attracted over 163 entries.

Clifford, who trained as a lawyer and worked as a union official with the National Union of Workers, wrote the story during her children’s nap-times.

Though she hadn’t written anything except emails since she left work to raise a family, the words came easily. “I’d thought about it for eight months,” she says, “and wanted to write about something that I know well.”

The story’s kindergarten setting, with its familiar backdrop of poster paint and play dough, was a natural choice.

“I don’t know anything about murder, but I have been on the kinder committee this last year and it’s taken up a lot of time,” she laughs.

Clifford received $750 and a trophy for her efforts: a scarlet stiletto shoe with a steel heel plunging into a perspex mount.

Clifford is one writer to watch. Previous winners include crime-writer Tara Moss and short story specialist Cate Kennedy.

For information about the 15th Scarlet Stiletto in 2008 Awards go to http://home.vicnet.net.au/~sincoz/

The organic joy of Koonwarra

2008-02-28T20:34:00.002+11:00

Driving into the small Gippsland village of Koonwarra - a short jaunt from Inverloch or Leongatha - you could be forgiven for thinking you've entered some sort of children's fairytale - it's that pretty. Koonwarra describes itself as a contemporary village and is built around the premise of demonstrating sustainable living. But that doesn't mean it's ended up as some sort of twee theme park for organic life.
Instead there is a realness here, with a small but beautiful group of shops showcasing organic and locally produced food and wine, clothing, furniture and art. There's also a day spa, accommodation and - very exciting - an organic cooking school.

The Koonwarra foodstore serves great meals on long rustic benches, where you sit surrounded by a tempting display of produce from the verdant surrounding fields. There's pickles, jams, organic cordials, cheeses and wines. I'd known about the foodstore for time, but I had no idea there was so much more here.

Next door is the fabulous store Revamp, (closely watched over by the stunning and very friendly Billy the dog pictured below). Revamp sells recycled and found furniture and collectibles, as well as organic clothing.

Across the road is a day spa and the delightful sounding Peaceful Gardens Organic School and Farmhouse Kitchen. There you will find 1930s inspired meals plus an intriguing cooking school which promises to reconnect people to the simplicity and goodness of food. Who could resist?

There's also a great nursery called The Outside Bit and an organic fruit and veg - The Organic Fix.

A farmer's market runs every month and the village has also set up a Sustainable Communities Centre, which offers environment education and works to improve sustainability in this heavily farmed region.

Revamp furniture and collectibles (above)

Billy the Koonwarra resident

Artisan wares (above)

Pickles and jam from the foodstore (above and below)

Organic fruit and veg store (above)

For more information and inspiration, visit: www.koonwarra.vic.au
Revamp: www.revamp.net.au
Peaceful Gardens Organic Cooking School: www.peacefulgardens.com.au
Koonwarra Day Spa: www.koonwarraspa.com.au
The Escential Shop: www.escentials.com.au

Nature inspiration from Phillip Island

2008-02-26T22:48:00.000+11:00

Baby penguin peeping out, Phillip Island

Here are some more shots of the stunning natural coastline at Phillip Island

Another penguin happily in its burrow, Phillip Island
Coastal grasses, Smiths Beach, Phillip Island

Shell collection for sandcastle making, Smiths Beach

Stunning pink seaweed, Smiths Beach

For more information on the region, visit: www.promcountry.com.au

On the road: Phillip Island and Gippsland

2008-02-25T19:12:00.000+11:00

The fishing co-op at San Remo

Baysidemama has hit the road for some late summer travelling so I thought it might be interesting to Victorian families (and those from further afield) who are looking to travel in this part of the state to take a look at some easy to get to holiday spots.

First up Phillip Island.
I can't say I'd ventured down to this famous island since I was a kid and my memories were of wholesome no-frills vacations - caravan parks and fish and chips on windswept beaches. Well the good news is that Phillips Island is still a very relaxed tourist hub with some fabulous examples of classic mid century beachhouse architecture and amazing beaches and wildlife.

Sure the middle is still filled with farmland with a dirty great big motorcycle track, however the coast is quite breathtaking. Smiths beach and Cape Woolamai are wonderful places to wander along and admire the majesty of Bass Strait while the small little towns which dot the island (except perhaps for bustling Cowes) are like stepping back into the sort of quaint, quiet little beachside holiday hamlets of yesteryear.

Little 'general stores' dot the island, 5pm comes and goes without a hint of commuter traffic and you can still get yourself a decent coffee - just expect to adjust to island time and wait a requisite 15 minutes while the store owners catches up on the weekend news from locals. It's that sort of place.

We stayed at the super new resort Silverwater, which is perched above San Remo at the entrance to the island. It is certainly a new standard for accommodation around here and I highly recommend it to families - it is within an hour and a half drive from Melbourne - so well within the cut-off point for 'small restless children in back seat of the car' syndrome.

The resort has brand new apartments all centred around a village green with playground and enough space for the most energetic child to burn fuel. Most have superb sea views but we opted for one where we could open the door to the deck and the kids could run free.

There is a great on site restaurant and bar which also serves as a cafe and two amazing pools - one indoor and one out plus a games room.

The whole resort sits above the very cute working fishing village of San Remo which has come along in recent years yet still retains its charm. Scattered among your traditional bakeries and pubs now sits a health food store, there's a great kids playground plus the best fish and chips we have tasted in a LONG time.

There is a working fisherman's co-op here around the gorgeous little pier and at the end sits the fish and chip shop, along with an upstairs viewing platform where you can enjoy your extremely fresh flathead and the most generous serve of chips we've ever seen! And remember if you're coming this way to catch the pelican feeding at the pier at 12 noon daily.

Who could resist a place which bills itself as a fish freeway?

Some useful links:
San Remo Fisherman's Co Operative: www.srfco.com.au
Phillip Island nature attractions: www.penguins.org.au
Silverwater Resort: www.silverwater.com.au

Taking bub to work: A good idea or not?

2008-02-23T16:59:00.000+11:00

Over at mothertalkers.com they recently posted on an interesting issue which got a lot of respones: is it a good idea to bring your baby to work with you.

For a long time, this situation was billed as the ideal, the ultimate form of so-called 'flexibility' - being able to work, while literally rocking the baby with the other hand.

I've tried this on several occasions - I've even had to take a newborn baby to a meeting on one nightmarish occasion - and it was a disaster. I had one restless child who suddenly decided he would only settle with a feed and seven sets of eyes expectantly waiting for me to talk around a boardroom table. I've watched other women try and do it too - great for emergencies but not a way to work, or to mother long-term. I think it just makes for a stressed mum and stressed bub.

Take a look at the original story at:
http://www.mothertalkers.com/storyonly/2008/2/20/1974/03049

What do you think? Ever tried to take bub to the office?

Cookbooks: Do you actually use them...or just drool?

2008-02-22T12:39:00.002+11:00

Some of my collection of cookbooks.

Are cookbooks officially becoming the new fiction? I must confess that looking at my collection of them, you'd think I used them often. I do. But not to cook. I frequently get trapped buying them because they offer an entree into a seemingly perfect world - the beautifully photographed domestic order of the celebrity chef.

Take Bill Grainger. I love looking through his books, including his most recent, Holiday. The photography is stunning in all its faded pastel, beachy Sydney glory. The recipes look delightful yet I have't tried to make any of them. Instead I enjoy a peak inside the interiors of his domestic life. It's so different to my kitchen and living room. And when you watch him on tv baking with the kids, it is a stark contrast to baking with my two-year-old, who breaks down in world-title style tantrums when he realises he can't eat ALL the unbaked cake mix. Another Melburnian I know reckons the issue with Bill's recipes for a Melbourne audience is because they are very beachside, waterside, BBQing Sydney - and don't translate as well to our southern climate.

Nigella's another of my untried but tested kitchen companions. Love the pictures in the books. Love the tv series and I have stored in my memory all those wonderful domestic bliss tips of hers. I'm planning to use them someday. Probably the same day my kitchen resembles Bill Grainger's!

When I look at the recipe books I do actually use, I can break it down to three that I go back to. And I top these up from recipes garnered from the Web - often from other blogs. My tried and tested cookbooks are:

The Cook's Companion by Stephanie Alexander: We got an edition of this for our wedding and it has been a great reference ever since. Not only does it have great recipes but also vital information about choosing certain foods, how to store them and how to cook them.

Cookery the Australian Way by Shirley Cameron and Suzanne Russell: This book, in one form or another has been with me since childhood. Earlier editions were the textbook we used in Home Economics at school and it is a fabulous base for building up food knowledge.

Fresh by Allan Campion and Michele Curtis: Campion and Curtis, as many will know, are actually local Bayside food stars and this book is a great way to approach cooking. It's premise is to cook what is actually in season and structures the recipe list around this.

Oh and when I do entertain the first thing I do is drag the Jamie Oliver books out - especially Jamie's kitchen - as I reckon he makes great salads.

And while we're on food, here are a couple of food inspired blogs I've been enjoying lately:

www.tomatom.com - by local writer Ed Charles. A fantastic resource on food generally and specifically on the Melbourne food scene.

www.orangette.blogspot.com - this one is in the US but good writing and a great recipe index.

Do you have an all-time favourite cookbook?

What's going on around Bayside town

2008-02-21T14:07:00.000+11:00

Rickett's Point foreshore: Monday morning.

Art Competition:

Inspired by the great landscape artists of the Heidelberg School, the En Plein Air art competition invites artists of all levels to create artworks in the open air. All that is required is that the artwork is created between March 7 and 14 and and you paint, draw and generally create your piece in the open air, inspired by the landscape from Brighton to Mentone.

Individuals, families and children are all able to enter. The contributions will be exhibited at Sandybeach Community Centre on Saturday March 15 and Sunday March 16 for judging and sale.

For more details and entry forms visit: www.sandringhamlions.org.au

Garage Sale:

The Keysborough Animal Shelter is holding a monster garage sale, with all funds going directly to the care of the animals. Items for bargain prices include: linen, collectibles, books, ornaments, toys, sporting goods and more.
When: Sunday March 2
From: 8am - 12 noon
Where: Keysborough Animal Shelter, 10 Homleigh Road, Keysborough

For more details (and to view the beautiful animals they have looking for homes) visit: www.aaps.org.au

School readiness program:

Wanting to help your child get better prepared for prep? A local school readiness program is running for children aged 4-5 by experienced teachers. It works on teaching handwriting, reading, spelling and counting skills.

For more information contact: Joanna on (03) 9587 6784 or Tamara on (03) 9890 4546.

Swimming Lessons:

Getting your child in to a swimming class in Bayside is no easy task. With classes full to overflowing, you need planning and timing on your side. Klim Swim is nearly all booked up this term but word is that March 17 is the day they will be taking bookings for next term. So put it in your diary and make it your first task on the day!

For more information visit: www.recreationsandringham.com.au

Turnover those toys:

Bayside Toy Library has been going strong since 1985 lending toys to children aged six months to 10 years. Included are many toys that families might not own - ride on cars, mini trampolines, slides, seesaws, mini kitchens and work benches. The library also stocks hundreds of DVDs, videos and CDs.
The library can be found at 212 Dendy St, Brighton East (next to Brighton Golf Course).

For more information phone: (03) 9598 5253.

Food Glorious Food:

The Bright 'n' Sandy food and wine festival is on this Sunday, February 24 at Green Point, Brighton. There will be demonstrations by lots of well-known chefs, wine educators and a day's full of entertainment. Time to eat, drink, wander and make merry.

For more information visit: www.bayside.vic.gov.au

New weekly real estate column

2008-02-19T14:52:00.001+11:00

Hot property of the week: Haldane Street, Beaumaris. This property is being sold by Hodges and it's special because it was designed by landmark architect Robin Boyd in the 1950s. It's asking price is a cool $1.85m but for that you get an amazing design with lots of natural light. Go see: www.hodges.com.au and look under Beaumaris for more information. Picture: Hodges.

Let's face it. In Bayside, real estate is an obsession. We talk about it, read about it, spend a lot of time thinking about it and even once in a while some of us might spend a leisurely Saturday 'auction cruising' to get a bird's eye view of current prices - especially if they relate to your little pocket.

So here at Baysidemama, we've decided no site devoted to Bayside life would be complete without a weekly look at local real estate. It's also high time there was a regular look at the property market around here from a consumer perspective. So expect this column to look at lots of issues and trends.

Each week there will also be a focus on a great property or two for those of you who just like to take a look, and for those of you who are seriously about to hand over the cash and buy a new Bayside pad.

This week, I'm looking at two topics: are there pockets of Bayside left which are still reasonably (should we say relatively) untouched by the boom and ripe for buying and secondly, how to handle agents if you're a female buyer:

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So you've got the vision but lack the million dollars. Are there still any houses out there?

In 1999 I clearly remember standing in front of a fabulous 1950s double storey brick home in one of Black Rock's beachside streets and having a 'difference of opinion' with my husband. At just over the $400,000 mark I thought the house, on a huge block, was great buying. He didn't agree, so we let it go. OK, so we now wish we'd had a crystal ball but we talk about that missed opportunity with awe because just a couple of years later, those little pockets of Bayside with that same room for huge growth are much harder to find.

In fact, with the property boom which has swept over the area, it's pretty hard to find any areas untouched. But from a buyer's perspective, there are definately areas which can still expect some decent growth for those who have vision but not quite the cash flow for the multi-million dollar all-expenses and little-left-to-do Bayside pad.

Take, for instance, the area around the Seaview shops in Beaumaris. The streets are quiet and tree-lined and in many cases, the blocks are big. You're surrounded by golf courses, still close to the beach and you'll find homes quoted in the $850,000 plus range, especially if they are original and ripe for conversion.

That's equally the case with that group of lovely Cheltenham streets just of Weatherall Road. Many of the homes were built in the 1980s so they have great bones and space but are still going to sell for a little less than they would if you found them, for instance, in Bayview Crescent, Black Rock.

John Speer of Beaches Real Estate in Beaumaris says to find any sort of reasonable Bayside prices, you need to travel even further along the coast.

"The market reall radiates out of Brighton and the growth over the last 12 months has really spread right through Beaumaris,'' Speer says.

"That's also the case for Cheltenham and Highett where you have hit the $1million for renovated family homes now.''

Speer says $700-$800 will net you an original home and land in North Beaumaris and that price - essentially land value - flies as high as $950,000 plus closer to the beach.

Speer says the savvy family buyer looking for value is now buying up the great 1950s solid brick homes on the other side of Nepean Highway in Parkdale and Mordialloc, putting a second storey on and turning them in to lovely family nests.

Brighton real estate agent Anne Forsyth, of DuffyForsyth & Co, says those looking for good opportunities in the area would do well to look around the streets neighboring the Beaumaris Concourse shops and that great little pocket of Black Rock around Sturdee Street. Sturdee is quiet, has a kindergarten, park and sporting facilities on its doorstep and still boasts rows of 1950s and 1960s solid brick homes awaiting conversion.

"There are still some areas of Black Rock and Beaumaris which seem to have the most potential as first entry points to the area,'' Forsyth says.

Forsyth also says that as bleak as it might sometimes seem, you've always got to show up at a sale to snare that one off opportunity.

"I said to my kids recently - who are looking to buy in Bayside - you've just got to turn up to every sale you're interested in, as you just never know.''

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If you're female and have been to your fair share of open for inspections, you're most likely to have shared a universal experience: stumbling across an agent who is dismissive of women buyers or just talks to the husband.

Despite it being accepted that women are very often the decision-maker when it comes to buying the family home, you are likely to still sometimes encounter an agent who seem to find it easier to deal-make with the male of the species.

So what to do if you're a female property buyer? Well, in some ways, why not use it to your advantage. In the past when I've been inspecting a property I'm interested in and the agent has my husband in deep discussion, I just take it as a good opportunity to have a look without any hassles. Call it quiet time to visualise what to do with a space.

When it comes to the actual deal-making, it depends what you feel comfortable with. If you both want to be involved in that process, then let the agent know that. If you're the one selling a property, search for an agent you both feel comfortable dealing with. Don't be backward with getting questions answered if you're about to buy - yes it is important if you want to know how old an appliance is or whether the central vac system works - email your questions if you have to but don't let anyone make you feel they are anything but valid.

If you find yourself having to buy at auction, steel yourself to stand firm and not be intimidated or else, find someone you are comfortable with to go with you for moral support.

Have a suggestion for our real estate column. Please leave a comment below or email us at: baysidemama@gmail.com

Setting your fitness goals: How to get motivated....and stay that way.

2008-02-15T13:45:00.001+11:00

Walk, Don't Run, originally uploaded by vortistic.
Photo: Courtesy Flickr.

Here at Baysidemama, we are very lucky to have expert personal fitness trainer Tinika Van Dort write for us. Tinika has been training people for 15 years and has much experience helping people, including many Mums, set fitness goals and stick to them. Below is Tinika's guide to setting a fitness plan for the New Year.

Health and Fitness Goal Setting

There are no surprises to hear that one of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight and get fit. If we all are honest, we can probably recount a time in our past where this New Year’s resolution was one of our very own.

If you are trying to improve your fitness, lose a little weight, change your eating habits or make general lifestyle improvements then it is important to set realistic goals and monitor and re-evaluate your progress throughout your journey.

With this in mind, listed below are some considerations when setting your health and fitness goals. Individuals who plan ahead are more likely to succeed than those who don’t have a plan to follow.

Goal setting principles

1. Determine your goal and write it down.

The most import thing to remember when goal setting is to be realistic and set goals which are important to you, not anybody else.
Determine what is achievable for you right now and write this goal down.
Be very specific with your goal, don’t make a general statement. For example don’t say you want to lose weight - write down exactly how many kilograms you want to lose.
Remember it is important to set goals which you can measure, monitor and reevaluate throughout your journey.

2. Work out the best way for you to achieve this goal.

When determining your goal it is important to design a plan to achieve that goal. Without a plan you are a greater risk of failing to meet your goal. Different goals require different approaches. Let’s use an example of losing 5kg and look at some effective strategies to achieve this:

Aim to exercise for at least 30+ minutes on all or most days of the week.
Choose aerobic activities such as walking which will aid you in burning more calories.
Make improvements to your diet - cut back on junk food and increase your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, include low-fat dairy products and wholegrain foods in your daily diet.

3. Break down your goal into steps.

Individuals who break their goal down in to steps are more likely to reach it. In doing this it is also important to remember to set a reasonable time frame to achieve your goal.

Consider your exercise routine a step towards achieve your goal. For example, one step might be to exercise on all or most days of the week. Steps should be set for every week or every fortnight. The more steps you have in place, the more motivated you will become.

4. Regularly monitor your progress.

Decide how you are going to monitor your progress and record every detail in a training diary. Some suggestions include:

If you are exercising to lose weight, keep track of your weight loss.
Measure your progress in specific ways. For example, if you weight train, write down the weights and repetitions for each exercise during your training session.
Choose the most appropriate ways to measure your progress. Bathroom scales don’t distinguish between muscle and fat, therefore it is more effective to take your measurements with a tape measure.
Write down your progress at set intervals such as once a week.
Always remember to celebrate your progress.

5. Be positive and adapt your goals to fit changing circumstances.

A busy life and changing circumstances will interrupt your training routine. Some things for you to consider include:

Plan strategies to cope with interruptions. For example, when on holidays you may not be able to train as you do at home however you can always walk or use the hotel fitness facilities.
Don’t abandon your goal if you are ill or injured. Instead, adjust the time frame and approach of your goal. For example if you can’t exercise make sure your eating habits are improved.
If you achieve your goal earlier than expected, stay motivated and set another goal.

6. Make your goals known to others.

Support from family and friend can go along way to helping you achieve your goals. Remember to share your goals with your network that will support you. If you are not getting the support you require from various individuals, stay clear of them!

7. Don’t be hard on yourself

At times you may find that your goal is too ambitious. Some things to consider:

The first few months of a new program are always the most challenging. Adjust your short-term goals (steps), persist and remember that things will get easier.
Always celebrate your achievements - no matter how small. Revisit your goal and appreciate how far you’ve come.
Don’t give up and always celebrate the steps you achieve. You are worth the effort.

Good luck – it is a new year….what have you got to lose?

Note: Always see your doctor for a medical check-up before undertaking any new fitness program, especially if you are over 40 years, overweight, haven’t exercised in a long time or suffer from a chronic medical condition. If you are unsure how to best achieve your particular goals, ask an expert. This may including seeing your doctor, consulting an exercise physiologist, physiotherapist or appropriately qualified and certified personal trainer.

Tinika has been a personal trainer for 15 years. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physical Education, a Graduate Certificate in Sports Nutrition and a Masters in Sports Business.

If you'd like more fitness tips or want to know what's coming up on Baysidemama, email us at: baysidemama@gmail.com

Online inspiration - your guide to great motherhood sites on the Web

2008-02-12T09:27:00.001+11:00

Another type of web spun yesterday in my front yard.

In putting together this blog, I have reason (well, that's my excuse) to explore the wonderful world of blogs out there. So I thought I would share some of my recent finds of great sites to visit. These are all run by mothers and you will notice many have a creative bent.
I've sorted them by country:

Melbourne:
Townmouse: www.townmouse.typepad.com - site run by a childrenswear designer which always features interesting snippets and lovely photos, often of her own work.

Simply Living: www.livingsimplyliving.blogspot.com/ - run by a mother and photographer, there's lots to read here about turning a traditional Melbourne backyard into a sustainable rural paradise.

Misc Mum: www.miscmum.com - a recent find, written by a mother talking about daily life and her forays into self publishing a children's book. Always a good read.

Clementine's Shoes: www.clementineshoes.blogspot.com - lots of good writing, nice pics and inspiring ideas.

Living Creatively: www.livingcreatively.com.au - not sure if this is Melbourne based or else, but a great Australian site profiling people turning their creativity into a business.

Sydney:
Floating World: www.floatingworld.typepad.com - Again, another blog with a craft/design bent but great inspiration and lovely photos.

New Zealand:
Anknel and Burblets: www.anknelandburblets.com - A really inspiring site, full of the author's beautifully made objects. She has a great eye and includes lovely snippets of life with an infant as well.

US:
The Artful Parent: www.artfulparent.wordpress.com/ - another new find but lots of great ideas on bringing art and creativity into your child's daily life.

Soulemama: www.soulemama.typepad.com - I've been a reader of this site for a year now. The author writes well about homeschooling, craft and her recent foray into publishing. She also takes a mean photo.

Write Mama Write: www.writemamawrite.typepad.com - Great US site about motherhood and other snippets, often with great humour.

UK:
Tree Fall Design - www.treefalldesign.typepad.com - I seriously swoon over this woman's designs and creative eye.

Finland:
Sanctuary - www.houseofbliss.blogspot.com - I love Scandinavian design and enjoy reading this blog, as well as the two below:
Modern Country - www.moderncountry.blogspot.com
White Country - www.whitecountry.blogspot.com

There are plenty more and I will publish another list soon. I'm also planning on regularly profiling mothers around the world who blog, so stay tuned.

Do you have a great blog you read regularly? Please share in our comments section.

The man who changed the Bayside food scene

2008-02-06T20:37:00.001+11:00

Achim Herterich with a batch of freshly baked goodies at Kuche (above)

Achim Herterich has made a huge imprint on the foodie streetscape of Black Rock and Beaumaris. Clare Kennedy talks to him about his approach to food and his new venture, Kuche.

German-born chef and entrepreneur Achim Herterich is quietly transforming the foodscape of southern Bayside. After working as executive chef at Windows on the Bay in Mordialloc, he has embarked on a hectic series of food ventures. Since 2001 he counts six different endeavours. Many will know his face from his time running Beaumaris Pantry & Larder in The Concourse, which introduced great deli culture and good coffee to the area. He followed that up with Providorium in Balcombe Road, Black Rock, which provided a much needed boost to that pocket's cafe and deli offerings.

Inside Kuche (above) and celebrity actor, dancer and foodie Paul Mercurio recently ran a cooking class there (below)

Now Achim has recently opened shop-cum-kitchen Kuche Inspirational Food, a welcome haven for the weary home cook seeking a healthier alternative to the standard take-away options. He offers classy take-home meals, catering and cooking classes – all at the same Concourse venue.

Herterich, in chef’s whites and striped-blue apron, chops and sautés in his gleaming white kitchen, as he chats to customers about the day’s offerings on colourful display: chicken and mushroom lasagna, pesto lamb fillets wrapped in proscuitto and oxtail ragout - to name a few.

“My philosophy always in cooking is that the eye comes first. Before you even taste it your eye already speaks. If your eye doesn’t like what it sees, your tastebuds will be reflecting on that,” he says.

Herterich at work (above)

At a recent cooking class Herterich whipped up prawn cutlets tossed in a piri-piri spice mixture, pan fried and served with linguine pasta, and a napoli-sauce with fresh basil and sun-dried tomatoes. “The nice thing about it is you can create a meal in half an hour and have a really healthy nutritious meal, but very quickly made. That’s what people really want” he enthuses.

Herterich conducts most of the cooking classes himself around a sleek benchtop behind the counter (max 10-12 people) - with occasional guest-chefs. Master Patissiere Udo Eichelman recently demonstrated traditional European Christmas treats. At other Summer classes Herterich whipped up food for spring picnics and authentic country-style Italian meals. For those excited by a touch of glamour, local tv personality and keen cook Paul Mercurio was a recent guest-chef.

Herterich’s 25-year chef’s career includes a stint at the glamorous Drake Hotel, New York, and as executive-chef at Windows on the Bay, Mordialloc. He counts among the highlights being part of the Sheridan-sponsored team of chefs who won the 1992 Salon Culinaire Singapore world championships. His team’s winning entry included a carving of Captain Cook’s Endeavour, made from 150kg of chocolate.

Herterich’s latest venture is a perfect foil to Kuche Inspirational Wares, Herterich’s classy kitchen-wares shop, just over the road.

Kuche Inspirational Food, 19 South Concourse, Beaumaris, phone 9589 0900

Visit Kuche for food and classes at: http://www.kuche.com.au/

School's back....is there a little time for you?

2008-02-03T21:15:00.001+11:00

School and preschool are officially back and maybe this is an opportunity to take some time to try and new class or activity. There's plenty on offer, but here are our top ten suggestions (in no particular order):

Many of us long to explore our creative side, often in a non-competitive environment. The Beaumaris Art Group is a bit of a local institution. Established in 1953 it has a long and proud history of supporting artists and artistic traditions in the area. They also have another of their wonderful twilight artists' markets planned for March. Classes in paining, pottery, drawing, multimedia and much more. The Group is still working on a website but can be found behind the Community Centre in Reserve Road, Beaumaris (just past the tennis courts).

If craft or sewing is more your thing, take a look at the classes offered this term at Brighton Rec Centre. www.brightonrec.com.au

Like to read and would enjoy talking about it with others? What about joining a book club. Start your own or tap into an existing one. Beaumaris Books works with many book clubs. www.beaumarisbooks.com.au

Fancy yourself as a writer? Why not write a piece for us. We're always on the lookout for people wanting to contribute interesting pieces about aspects of parenting or life in Bayside. Just email us at: baysidemama@gmail.com

If you prefer to get a little bit more active, have you thought about taking to the sea. Ocean Kayaking Australia runs kayak hire off Elwood beach, and other points and is currently offering Baysidemama readers a special hire deal. See the article below. Or if sailing is more your thing, think about taking an adult sailing class at Black Rock or Sandringham sailing clubs.

If you'd like to get involved in local conservation and perhaps participate in a foreshore working bee, become a member of the Beaumaris Conservation Society: www.beaumarisconservation.net/

Getting fit is always on the top of New Year's resolutions. Many local gyms have childcare facilities, including Re-Creation in Tulip Street - www.re-creation.com.au - and Fitness First in Bay Road - w ww.fitnessfirst.com.au

If you're planning on going back to work but need some retraining, there are lots of short courses around. Try Sandy Beach Community Centre: www.sandybeach.org.au

There are plenty of great cooking classes around but these ones are meant to be fabulous and book out fast. Kuche Food: www.kuche.com.au

Local artist profile: Anne Spudvilas

2008-02-01T12:59:00.001+11:00

Images from The Peasant Prince (above).

Baysidemama hopes to publish regular profiles on local artists. In the first instalment, writer Clare Kennedy profiles local artist Anne Spudvilas.

The bay has long inspired the artists of Melbourne. Clarice Beckett (1887-1935) springs to mind; the early 1900s painter renown – after her death - for her misty paintings of Beaumaris. She, among others, tramped along the shoreline with her paints, capturing the Bay's many moods and shifting light.

And this body of water continues to inspire. Local resident, painter and portrait artist Anne Spudvilas recently staged an exhibition of photographs taken at the open-sea Brighton Baths.

Anne has also won acclaim as a picture-book illustrator – her most recent book The Peasant Prince, by Li Cunxin, is the children’s version of his best-selling memoir, Mao’s Last Dancer.

The picture-book traces the remarkable journey of Cunxin’s life: his poverty-stricken childhood in rural China; being plucked from his classroom to train at the Beijing Dance Academy; his self-imposed determination to excel, and his dramatic transformation into a world-famous dancer.

Spudvilas used traditional Chinese ink and watercolour on rice-paper to capture the Chinese setting of the story, and glossy oil paints on canvas to evoke, by contrast, the glitz and glamour of America as perceived by Cunxin on his first trip there as a young man from Communist China.

She even travelled to China with Cunxin for research, visiting his home village, the Dance Academy, and meeting his family and friends – all characters in the book.

The result is an inspiring picture-book for adults and children alike about following your dreams, brought to life by Spudvilas’s evocative illustrations.

For a look at Anne's inspiring images of the Bay and its surrounds visit:

http://www.annespudvilas.com/Main.asp?_=Photography&g=yes

The Peasant Prince by Li Cunxin, illus. by Anne Spudvilas
Penguin Group, Australia, 2007