The Mother Tongue

I’ve been busy setting up the website and fiddling behind the scenes for The Mother Tongue, an event by Digital Parents birth momma Brenda (who seem to have some sort of ADHD because she can’t stop creating new events for bloggers). I was supposed to be one of the speakers but I had to pull out because we’re moving houses again. I think it’s going to be an awesome night, so buy your tickets now!

Logitech boom box

Mother’s day came early this year! Logitech’s UE Boombox is a great Mother’s Day gift for the gadget mums out there like me. It’s a fantastic lightweight Bluetooth speaker that lets you use your smartphone or tablet to play and control music from up to 50 feet away. Great solid sound, so much so that hubby’s been hogging it since it arrived (RRP $299.95).

Bosisto’s Eucalyptus oil saves my table

I had no idea that the Bosisto’s Eucalyptus oil has the power to erase the paint on my daughter’s play table that I haven’t had the power to clean up in years. I tried nail polish remover but it almost took out the white paint! See the before and after photos yourself. I needed to clean it up so I can repaint it. Now I can!

Pixar short films

Pixar’s latest short films are on DVD and they are absolutely awesome. I had no idea they had several of these things. I only saw La Luna before the Brave screening ages ago and that one was really good too especially on 3D. My favourite in this DVD is the Day and Night out, brilliant concept. It’s worth watching and getting.

Writing course

I’m about to finish my online course at the Australian Writers’ Centre. Even after how many years in the industry, I still got heaps of information from the Magazine and Newspaper writing course. I’m definitely doing the second course later this year. Valerie Khoo and Allison Tait are really helpful. I’ve never done an online course before but this one is easy to do and very interactive. One thing I do want to tell anyone thinking of doing the course is that they should maximise the QnA section. Ask the teacher! That’s what it’s like in a real classroom so make the most of it!

The Giveaway insanity

I know you’ve seen the giveaway overdrive here and I’m so glad you continue to support it. I committed to several projects before DPCON13 and I’ve been trying to have them all done after the craziness of the conference. I have more to come though so keep watching this space!

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It’s a kick in the gut when someone tells you your work is not up to their standards. It would hurt any writer out there, or any worker for that matter.

It sucks and it makes you not want to continue with your work. To me, that means the editor wasn’t effective in motivating the writer. That’s what separates good editors from mediocre ones – they know how to get their point across without the need to step on the writer.

Sometimes you fight back, sometimes you see their point, sometimes you just let it go and move on.

Eventhough you decide to move on though, there is still a sting there. Of course there is. You wouldn’t be human if there wasn’t. But that’s okay because you recognise the stinging sensation as an aftermath, and that it will eventually go away.

I guess what I take away from this experience is that you can’t please everyone. There are just some people who you will clash with no matter what and it’s best to go your separate ways.

I am fully aware this is a blessing in disguise. I don’t want to work for someone who will continuously undermine my work and not help me grow (or maybe they just don’t have the capacity to help people grow).

But right now, I’m just waiting for the sting to go away. And it will.

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I had a chance to have a Skype chat with award winning nutritionist Dr Joanna McMillan for the My Day on a Plate campaign with Australian Pineapples.

Australian Pineapples is a not-for-profit organisation run by Horticulture Australia that supports Aussie growers and educate people regarding the benefits of pineapple.

Anyway, did I mention I’m on Weight Watchers? I’ll write more on that later especially because I’ve lost nearly four kilos since starting this over a month ago. My talk with Joanna topped up the information I’ve started to gather on living healthier.

Here’s what I got from our session:

• Try to stick to low GI foods.
• I can mash anything up instead of just mashed potato, which isn’t low GI. I can do sweet potato, cauliflower, carrots, peas and more, mix with some Philadelphia, garlic, spices and stuff.
• Try to stick to wholegrain bread more than wholemeal, or try sour dough with soy linseed from your local bakery.
• Seafood rocks (they are also very low on ProPoints with Weight Watchers).
• Try not to eat the kids’ leftovers. It turns out when you just graze instead of eating properly you end up eating more. Also, being the family trashcan for leftover food is never good.
• Help your kids with school readiness by structuring the day’s three meals, morning tea and afternoon tea.
• Snacking on fruits, like pineapple, is a good thing.
• Finally, health is not a diet. It’s a lifestyle. There’s no such thing as “I’m on a break” – something which I’m starting to learn well. I was afraid I’d gain weight during the Easter long weekend but instead I lost over half a kilo. Yay!

Now you’re turn to say yay! The good people at “My Day on a Plate” is giving away a $100 Woolies voucher to one lucky winner to help you start a healthier lifestyle.

To enter, just answer this in 50 words or less: What’s your tried and tested doable health tip? Something that would be helpful to those who are just starting this healthier lifestyle (like moi).

 

Australian residents only. Competition ends 22 April AEST.

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CONGRATULATIONS RACHEL T!

Thanks everyone for joining!

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Household name for oats, Uncle Toby’s, has launched the all new My Little Oats campaign stacked full of tips to pack in more during brekky and get the kiddies enjoying a nourishing breakfast.

My little one is luckily an oats girl and she enjoys her Uncle Toby’s sachets (as do I). My mum had a stroke a couple of years ago and every time I get the chance, I send a box of Uncle Toby’s oats to the Philippines because it’s one of the things allowed by the doctor for brekky. She likes the break from the normal boring oats she usually buys there.

Anyway, the new campaign will get mums to share their own experiences and tips on the site, because mummy knowledge is important to share around. There are also heaps of other stuff on the site so check them out.

The good people at Uncle Toby’s is giving away a winter’s worth of Uncle Toby’s oats and a Canon camcorder to capture those lovely, and funny, family moments.

To enter, simply tell us in 50 words or less:

What’s your best tip to make brekky time smoother and easier? (It sounds impossible but there must be a good tip out there!)

PLUS I will be picking FIVE runners up who will be getting a personalised placemat from Uncle Toby’s.

For more chances of winning, head to Uncle Toby’s and post your tips there as well. They’re giving away weekly prizes!

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Congratulations Rebecca Bird! You won the camcorder!

Everyone gets a code for their personalised placemats! Yay!

 

Australian residents only. Competition 15 April ends AEST.

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{Sponsored Post}

The Disney Pixar Fun Zone is up, featuring Mack the Transporter from Cars!

The Walt Disney company Australia, Mack Trucks, V8 Supercars and the Entertainment Store has launched the brand new travelling attraction this year.

Fans will be able to meet and take their photo next to the life-size replica of Mack The Transporter, and enjoy the ultimate Race-O-Rama PS3 play-offs in the decked-out B-double trailer parked up behind. Kids will also learn the rules of the road using pedal power on the World Grand Prix Training Track, complete with its very own road, signs, flags, cones, rumble strips and traffic lights!

There’s a Toy Story themed attraction within the Disney-Pixar Fun Zone, including Woody’s workshop where they can build their own bandit moustache and sheriff badge to take home with them! There’s also a Monsters University maze; new Cars-themed two-track giant inflatable slide; and a Finding Nemo 3D Movie Dome.

You can catch Mack in these shows around Australia and New Zealand:

Sat 6 and Sun 7 April V8 Supercars Tasmania Microsoft Office 365

Fri 12 to Sun 14 April V8 Supercars ITM 400 Auckland, New Zealand

Sat 4 and Sun 6 May V8 Supercars Chill Perth 360

Thu 16 to Sun 19 May Brisbane Truck Show, Queensland

Sat 15 and Sun 16 June V8 Supercars Skycity Triple Crown, Darwin

Fri 5 and Sun 6 July V8 Supercars Sucrogen Townsville 400

Sat 27 and Sun 28 July V8 Supercars Coates Hire Ipswich 360

Sat 14 and Sun 15 September V8 Supercars Sandown 500

Fri 11 to Sun 13 October V8 Supercars Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000

Fri 25 to Sun 27 October V8 Supercars ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600

Sat 23 to Sat 24 November V8 Supercars Phillip Island 360

Fri 6 to Sun 8 December V8 Supercars Sydney 500

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