Archive for Mad Cow Thinks …
Product Experience: The Trash Pack – absolute garbage that’s absolutely awesome
Posted by: | CommentsA couple of months back, I was invited to attend a Toy Fair at an exhibition centre in Melbourne, courtesy of Moose Enterprise, who are responsible for such things as Angry Birds, Talking Tom, Annoying Orange and various other plush toys, AquaSand, Sea Monkies (I always wanted some of these as a kid! And last week!), Bakugan, AquaDoodle, Smubbles and … sooooo much more.
Anyhoo, after experiencing a guided tour of their stand (impressive) I was sent on my merry way with a bag containing an assortment of their products.
The children, all too aware that I’d been invited to a Toy Fair and hated me because I wouldn’t let them take the day off school to accompany me, and I farewelled them at the school gate with a “You weren’t invited, so ner!”, harassed me from the moment they returned home from school, until I handed over the goods.
I let them choose one item each from the bag.
Godzilla chose The Trash Pack, much to my amazement and disgust.
More shit to lie around the house and to be told to pick up, repeatedly, in a very loud voice, I had thought at the time.
What transpired has left me astounded, yet delighted at the same time.
He immediately opened the pack, and disappeared into his room and played. For hours!
Over the next few days he proceeded to nag me about getting some more. As he had some pocket money owing, I buckled. At this point, I was still a bit “hmmm, not sure about this” as they are, quite literally garbage. They are small, cheap and are “collectable”, which basically means there are a shit load of them for you to buy.
I was dubious about their longevity and I am vehemently against buying useless crap that will lie around and annoy me.
We returned home, his new packs under his arm, and proceeded to play … again for hours!
Let me sum up a few things before I proceed, things that have made me happy:
- he got off his iPod and played with stuff
- he created stories, themes, scenes and all kinds of imaginative play stuff. And things.
- he played with his younger brother, whom had intercepted the Trash Pack party with this Thomas the Tank Engine trains and they had a great little game together
- he played with his older brother, and they created a great story involving The Trash Pack newsreaders, a Zeppelin and a tragedy that befell the town of Trashpackia
- he made a series of videos, telling this story and various others, using his extremely vivid imagination .. and not just one of him dancing naked to Sexy & I know it, either, but stories involving The Trash Pack.
To put this into context, this stuff doesn’t happen very often off the iPod. You may get bouts of it, with his stuffed toys, or various other toy-like paraphernalia, but it rarely, if ever, lasts days, let alone weeks as The Trash Packs have been doing.
It hasn’t been all rosy. He had a near meltdown when Chippie took a liking to Moo Cow Disease and ran off with it.
Monkey Boy has, at times, attempted to control the situation and stories, and it has resulted in skull-bashing repercussions.
Three Trashies have gone missing. It has been devastating.
There are fucking Trashies scattered all around his room at times. Thankfully, they are nowhere near as painful to stand on as LEGO bricks are. Phew.
He is learning responsibility and to take care of his things. He has them mostly (now) contained to one area.
He has not let up on nagging me until I completely lose my ‘nana about getting more Trashies. It is his birthday next week and his only requests have been ‘more Trashies’ and has stepped out of his comfort zone to tell family members and friends exactly what he’d like for his birthday.
We gave a couple of Trash Pack sets to a friend for his birthday earlier this year. His mum, a few weeks later, rang me to say “Thanks for that”. It may or may not have been loaded with sarcasm, but when this friend comes over to play, with his rapidly growing Trash Pack collection, they play nicely and stay out of my way for the entire time. Win-win, really.
Moose were kind enough to donate some Trash Pack sets to the goody bags for Mums Night Out! on the 13th of April. I have received – particularly from those attendees with boys as children – another few “Hmm, thanks for the Trash Packs”.
It seems they are loved by many … personally, I don’t get it, but if they kids are playing and not annoying me, then great. I’m happy.
It’s a bonus that they are using their imaginations and fingers and playing nicely together. The school holidays were also relativley pleasant, thanks to this utter garbage (I say that because they are, literally, garbage, not in any derogatory way at all).
The Trash Pack, in various sized sets, are available from K-mart and no doubt various other establishments like that. I only say K-mart as that’s where we go to collect ours, I haven’t seen them elsewhere, because I haven’t looked elsewhere. Oh, and my local Coles, but they have a limited selection.
Disclaimer: I was not paid to conduct this review. In fact, I wasn’t even asked to conduct it, but I was so impressed by my eight-year-old and his interaction with them that I was compelled to speak up about it. Aside from the pack of 5 Trashies in the Moose Enterprise bag from the toy fair, all other Trash Pack stuff we have has come out of Godzilla’s pocket money, present money, or bribery (i.e. my money). We now own in excess of 55 Trashies … *sigh* No doubt we’ll have more after the weekend.
I am also considering suing Moose for stress, given I have had to endure “can we get more Trash Packs today?” every single day for the last few months. So much so that on Saturday, by 9.43am, I had to put a ban on the words “trash” and “pack” .
Mums’ Night Out! It’s a wrap
Posted by: | CommentsLast night was THE night of nights. None of this Logies business. I even had my own wardrobe malfunction, whereby I was so focussed on everyone having a brilliant time, that I literally chose my outfit an hour before I was to be at the venue, and had a dodgy slip thing (something I have never worn in my life!) that kept sliding sideways and sitting funny and exposing my bra. A lot.
(I should have gone with the Mix top I had, but I wore that at an event only two weeks ago and … you know, I’m a fuckwit, cos I don’t usually care about stuff like that… anyhoo.)
I spent Thursday evening seconding the kids to ‘help’ finish stuffing the goody bags for the night, then most of the following two hours saying “NO! They are NOT YOURS to have, NO you cannot have one until I get my goody bag tomorrow night and I MIGHT share with you, oh, please, god, help me, why am I doing this?!?!?!?!?!??!?!”
I spent this morning making sure the iPod had all the appropriate music on it, paying invoices, checking numbers, printing tickets, putting stickers on envelopes and hoping everyone fucking appreciates the work put in that they don’t see.
Then I arrived late at the venue, but not so late, just later than my Anal Control Freak Virgo Perfectionist part of my brain likes. You know, 7 minutes later than the time I set myself, which was half an hour earlier than necessary.
The venue – The Butterfly Club – is freaking awesome! They were an absolute pleasure to work with, incredibly accommodating and patient. And the decor was amazing; funky, kitsch, lots of little knickknacks around the place, but mostly comfortable and fun.
Jenny Wynter and her Unexpected Variety Show was equally awesome. I have seen – and reviewed – this show before, and was just as blown away by Jenny’s talent as previous. She is clever, honest, funny – hilarious, actually – and an absolutely brilliant singer. People talk about ‘range’ and ‘pitch’ and stuff like that when it comes to singing. I don’t know enough about the intricacies and technicalities of singing to comment. What I do know is this chick can sing in different accents! And she’s funny. Did I mention that?
Her story is just sooooo heartwarming, and heartbreaking at times, and she’s not scared to sing about her birthing experience.
I laughed and laughed.
Upstairs, afterwards, was food and drinking and just chilling with an amazing bunch of women. I always have just so much fun, just letting my hair down, not having to worry about anything and just knowing I’m loved and supported. It was SO awesome to see some new people come along, a few who had even braved purchasing a single ticket, and having a great time.
It makes my heart sing.
I have to express my gratitude for not only everyone who came along and supported the night, but especially to the chicks from Real Mums (and its Bad Mother’s Club community) whom keep me going and are always there for me.
I’m so impressed by the love and support and community of these chicks. This is how awesome they are … one of our ‘usuals’ couldn’t make it last night, so we rang her and sung to her, so she wouldn’t miss out. Of course, it was a song that she abhors, but that’s not the point; that she abhors it holds a lot of meaning with her and Mums’ Night Out! so we had to include her …
Photos of boobs and shots up dresses were also taken – it’s a given. But they’re being used for blackmail at a later stage deleted.
Goody bags were handed out and rifled through – because who can wait till the morning to check out the loot?!
Massive, massive undying love for the sponsors of Mums’ Night Out! – you all rock! And, apparently, they also rocked our night …
and they are ….
ZangIT of course – my biggest and bestest, arsekickingest (in several perspectives) sponsor. There are not enough words to convey just how much ZangIT have done for me and Mums’ Night Out! Oh, and they provided the bags to house the goodies 
Lindt … NOM! Am blown away by their contribution to the goody bags!
LEGO – thank you! I’m not sure if that’s “for providing something to keep my children entertained and happy” or a more facetious sort of ‘thank you’ along the lines of “great, now I have a heap of nagging going on about getting their hands on the minifigures intended for the bags” … either way, it’s been awesome from a bribery perspective 
And minifigure rock!
Arnotts – more nommage!
Papermate – I love, love, love their new Inkjoy pens! Have you tried them? Awesome. I do – obviously – a lot of writing, and seriously recommend these for the purpose of things like writing … even on arms … just saying …
Moose Enterprise - specifically for their Trash Packs and Sticka-Lulu packs!
Noodle Box – and the Little Miss Chopsticks and toppers.
The Mummyseuss – who has also been a longstanding support and sponsor of Mums’ Night Out! and mums in general
Jacinta’s Kitchen Capers – ditto! And the cupcakes!!!
and, finally, Babysitters and More!
Without you, I’d be in the foetal position on the floor and the night would be blah … thank you all, I can’t express just how much you made my night and my life easier
Here’s the haul: 
Thank you all who supported the night, thank you for coming along and allowing me to have an awesome, FUN, mental health moment … thank you all for being awesome!
Mixed Up Muddled Up Day … with Style!
Posted by: | CommentsDragged myself out of bed, cos I really didn’t want to get up, but I was wide awake and there was what appeared to be a demented warthog lying next to me. I could tell it was demented because of the horrendous noise emanating from it.
It wasn’t demented, or a warthog, but my husband. Same same? Whatever, the noise was still ghastly.
After a screaming tantrum over wanting porridge for breakfast, which is exactly what he got in the first place, Chippie went through his usual process of carefully portioning his oats and yogurt into equal parts; the table, the floor, the chair, his belly, his penis (naked breakfasts are the go in our household) and, one can only assume, into his digestive system. He then proceeded to demand the toast I’d put in for me, and happily much away at it, distracted so I could cook my own toast and be afforded the opportunity to, at the very least, smear it in peanut butter with strong hopes that I will get to eat it.
I did, but Chippie noticed me relaxed and with a smile on my face, and asked very politely if he could have some, before ripping it from between my teeth and consuming it. It was at that point I realised he still had half his on his plate, and he was still going for it.
I am unsure as to why my weight loss is not greater than it otherwise should be.
Which I need, in particular, for today, as I am off to the Mix Apparel Fashion Event with celebrity stylist Kai Aiyub.
Not without first experiencing the morning swim lesson with Chippie, and attempting to explain to him we need to leave now, now, NOW, so I can at least be showered before heading off to the Fashion Event. Restraining a soaking wet three-year-old is never fun. At least I had ‘getting changed soon’ to look forward to.
I showered, dressed and off I went, arriving at the Fashion Event at Coles in Taylors Hill where I was met by the very Kai Aiyub himself. Most chuffed was I, when he looked at me and said “Hey, I know you!” … because prior to that I was more than a little terrified of meeting fabulousness.
After watching the Active Wear and Smart Casual attire paraded in front of us, I was whisked up on stage, then taken out the back and given a top and pants, chosen for me specifically by Kai (which I’m guessing is how he knew me – stalking me and what not) and a cutesy little scarf to put on, before being invited out on stage again for the assembled audience. Oh, and some cute little ballet shoes, too, which I would not normally choose, but think I will change my mind on that.
Then he put a hat on me
Am super impressed with the outfit, and will wear it, so long as it finds its way to my floor so I can choose it from there. Also, it fits my boobs nicely, without making them appear huger, drawing attention to them, or gaping, so that’s a bonus
Then I went and bought two pairs of leggings (but not to wear as pants, I promise!) because it was warm and I’d changed back into my jeans. But kept the top on because it was rather comfy and I quite liked it. So the black leggings were to go with the new top, and the grey leggings in the pic are a bit thicker and were in the car …
(I also noticed, with great pleasure amongst the immense range of attire they have, from active, to casual, to dressy etc, were jarmies! YAY!)
I had to get a photo with the Mix Kombi as well, because … I don’t know, I just did.
See if you can pick which is me … I know, I just blend right in there with the models stuck on the side …
I have to say, Kai is hilarious (well, I don’t have to say it, as in ‘I’m being told I have to’, but I have to say it cos he was just funny! And I was super impressed with how he spoke to and treated people; no judgement, no real reference to weight or words like “look better” or “look slimmer” etc. He just made everyone feel gorgeous; the way he spoke to and interacted with them. It was really great to see.
A quick interview on camera for A Current Affair ( to air this evening, although I’m not sure if they’ll show my bit – but the camera man and sound guy recognised me from previous segments, so that was pretty funny) and I did some shopping (the aforementioned leggings and will be back for more stuff when I get some proper time) and sat around to watch the next show … which was just as fun as the first, even though I wasn’t part of it 
Home, where I am harassed about frigging Minecraft and the obtaining of for my eight-year-old and remembered why I couldn’t wait to be out of the house this morning. He’d started that “Can we get Minecraft” sometime last September and he hasn’t stopped since the beginning of the school holidays. He kicked it up 35 notches this morning.
Grumpy Pants took them swimming, and they arrived home to my preparing a meal which I decided to invent … because I can.
Crumbed parmesan chicken drummettes.
Grumpy said it won’t work. I ignored him.
Monkey Boy came to investigate. “Is that something new you are inventing?”
“Uh huh,” I replied, very proud of myself.
“Are you trying to give us salmonella?” he asks.
Hrm …
Still, I looked good and felt comfortable whilst I was doing it … so that’s a good thing, right?
Here’s a photo of Kai and I:
A Review: The Help
Posted by: | CommentsHaving heard much about this movie and book – The Help – and desperate to get a night out to go and see it (or just get a night out!) I was excited to receive a request and copy of the DVD to review.
Based on the novel written by Kathryn Stockett, the movie is:
Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, Skeeter (Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends’ lives — and a Mississippi town — upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen (Davis), Skeeter’s best friend’s housekeeper, is the first to open up — to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter’s life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories — and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly — and unwillingly — caught up in the changing time.
I’ve watched the movie twice now; once on my own and again with the hubby.
It is a beautifully portrayed movie, and very well acted, in my humble opinion.
It highlighted the extreme racial tension, treatment and abuse towards blacks in Mississippi in the 1960s with respect and tact, it had me laughing and crying.
I am regularly horrified and uncomprehending of some of the treatment of some people towards other human beings. This movie was no different, moments left me feeling physically sick at times.
(And not the incident with Minny’s chocolate pie; but you’re going to have to watch the DVD to find out more about that – hilarious!)
I was appalled at the extent to which white women would behave in a manner that they, themselves, weren’t even remotely ok with, because of social pressures of those around them.
Again, with tact and respect, it explored the laws and social beliefs and values of the time, the politics of the era, the experiences from not only the perspectives of the coloured maids, but also the internal challenges experienced by a number of the non-coloured characters.
Mostly, I appreciated that it wasn’t “just another movie” where an individual shunned the pressure of others to follow their dreams, but that an individual did it against considerable pressure and changed the lives of many others, not just their own life, and changed the social fabric of the small town of Jackson.
Then I cried some more.
Definitely a keeper (not something that happens very often in this household – we don’t buy DVDs just cos) and will no doubt be watched again.
It is available on BluRay and DVD and has been for the last month
Enjoy- and I’d love to hear what you think of the movie when you get a chance to watch it.
A Pedras Experience
Posted by: | CommentsAfter yesterday’s particularly harrowing day, I was a bit meh about heading out today.
You know that feeling you get when you just can’t be arsed, don’t want to be near anyone, don’t want people to speak to you (or wee on you, again), and you most certainly don’t want to go out? It was like that.
But past experience has shown me that when I feel like that, going out and being around people tends to be pretty bloody good.
Also, I said I was going, so I did.
A change of morning plans meant the “It’s ok, I’ll take the kids, you go to your blogging thing” turned into “can you take the kids to your bloggy thing?”
So I did.
It was a lunchy-launch for Pedras Sabores range of flavoured, natural mineral waters, with 100% natural carbonic gas, natural ingredients and yummy flavours like Line & Mint, Raspberry & Ginseng and Lemon & Green tea.
My mild anxiety re having the kids tag along at the last moment where allayed by the fabulous entertainment of the bar tendery person tossing a bottle and cocktail shaker around, who then let us have a bit of a tasted of the drink. Which was very delicious (and refreshing on such a HOT day!)
Unfortunately, having the kids with me meant that I didn’t actually get to finish a glass, as they were promptly whisked from my hands and consumed by smallish people. I do believe Chippie discarded any drink actually handed to him for his consumption and just wandered around testing everyone else. By which I mean “drinking until the glass was empty”.
The kids were then whisked away, around the corner, after first ordering food – because we all need to keep our priorities in perspective – and having the most amazing face painting done:
I do love a worm coming out of a forehead …
We big kids sat around a large table, ate scrumptious food and learnt much more about Pedras Sabores; like that is is low calorie and low GI and contains only 5g of sugar, ALL from fruit and that is has purifying and anti-oxidising qualities and affects you mental and physical performance. In a good way, of course!
Clearly, it is suitable for the whole family to enjoy. I don’t want my whole family to enjoy it. I want to enjoy it all by myself as it was very delicious.
Also, I had Chippie sitting on my lap for a good portion of it, until I was able to secure another chair and he sat on my lap next to an empty chair. And drank every drink I managed to get my hands on.
*sigh*
I did manage to extract him from my lap and hide in a corner with my drink – raspberry was, by far, the best, although, actually, the lemon was quite nice. So was the lime … *sigh*
What I did like, because, as I’ve said before, I’m not all that much of a sweet tooth, was the lack of sweetness, just a hint of it, and the rather subtle carbonation and flavouring.
Kind of like when you put a slice of lemon or two in your water … only slightly bubblier/fizzier and a bazillion times nicer.
After a few hours, and surprisingly incident free, we were sent on our merry way, some bottles under our arms to take away.
And, as I promised at the launch, I continued the testing when I arrived home, trialling both the raspberry and the lemon with vodka.
No, not in the same glass obviously.
This required two glasses … one with vodka and raspberry & ginseng, and another containing vodka and lemon & green tea … and, obviously, someone to drink them.
*ahem*
All in the name of duty, of course, I tested them both. Both were very delicious. Both had a nice, refreshingly subtle flavour and were rather easy to drink … too easy, some may suggest ….
(I also have some reliable reports that gin and lime & mint Pedras is just as awesome.)
At the end of it all, however, I’m glad I went. And have also discovered a mineral water I’m happy to consume more off … just saying.
And after two vodka and Pedras Sabores I didn’t do this with the glasses .. this was performed earlier in the day, and pretty impressive …
A Family Adventure: Adventure Park, Geelong
Posted by: | CommentsToday, thanks to the awesomely fabulous Porter Novelli Melbourne, I was invited to partake in a day of fun and adventure at the Adventure Park, located just past Geelong, Victoria.
I was also asked to bring my family along.
*sigh*
Of course, I did make the most of this and mentioned “Family Day”, the very words which, without thought, invoke a vomit of “I don’t wanna go” and “I hate family days” etc etc. Thus, I took great delight in opening the website and printing off the map and checking out stuff we can do and saying “Oh, COOL! I can do ALL of this and not have to worry about YOU! I’m gonna have so much FUN!!!!”
I waited till they cried and promised me they would never, ever, ever, ever, ever say they hated family days again before saying they could come along, too.
Off we set on the nearly two hour drive, new bathers donned, swim bag packed with everything we needed and kept our eye on the outside temperature. It was overcast and cool. We had mild panic when the temperature reading dropped from 20 to 18 degrees C and willed it to raise another 7 degree or so.
Upon arrival – we being not just first, but way too early *sigh* – we met with the other bloggers who were sharing the experience, too, and were handed a goody bag and escorted to our private cabanas. My children were most disappointed it wasn’t a sausage, and I spent much of the day trying to explain why it wasn’t. They like kabana. A lot. But we can’t very well relax in a sausage now, can we? Nor would it do a terribly good job at keeping the sun off us.
Apparently, neither of these were suitable excuses, so I said “look at that” and pointed at something behind them, then ran away when they turned to look.
The Park had lots of very cool (as in “awesome” although “cool as in not warm” also applied today) attractions for all ages. Loads of watery playground type thingies for big kids (as in tweens and teens) and toddlers and preschoolers and big kids (as in adults who have yet to grow up).
Chippie developed a phobia of, well, everything, and I attempted to coax him in to trying a few things, encouraging him and speaking in a soft, calm voice the whole time, before sitting him on my lap on a 3 foot high water slide and getting my bum wedged. We made it to the bottom, where I banged my ankle, and he ran off screaming very loudly and drawing much attention to the woman trying to extract her thighs from the bottom of the toddler slide ….
The bigger kids were able to wander off and do what they wanted, which was simply fantastic! I love places that let kids to stuff without their parents hovering over them constantly. I love that they can experience things, explore and just have fun.
Partly because it means I can, too.
(I’m one of those mums who joins in the activities with her kids, not because I want them to be careful, but so I can be stupid, too )
I (well, we all did) had many goes on the very big water slide, and the Gold Rush and Wild West rapids.
Chippie took a liking to the Lazy River (photos of which are on the underwater camera we were provided with on the day and I have yet to have developed and put into a suitable format for posting on blogs) and insisted we go around many, many times on The Donuts. He nearly got wet, too.
After we had suitably worn ourselves out and the temperature dropped, announcing the end of “afternoon” was near and the commencement of “evening” was imminent, we dressed, had a go on some paddle boats and a hit of mini-golf.
This saw the five of us spread over three holes, two balls lost, three balls found (????), Chippie yelling “Look, I find a ball!” which turned out to be the ball that whomever had just hit that landed near the hole and several tantrums at the retrieval of said balls “found”.
Nearly finished our game, an announcement came over the Park, advising that it was “closing in 15 minutes at 6.30″.
Wow! We’d literally been there 7 and a half hours. First to arrive and last to leave!
Back to our sausage cabana, collected our stuff and climbed into the car; weary, yet happy.
We’d all had a great time. We’d go back again. We’d like to see more stuff for the big big kids, more adrenaline pumping stuff, but there was plenty for us to do. We love that our two older kids (and probably most kids of about age 7 and up) could go off on their own, explore, climb, jump, scream down rapids and slide down really big, wet stuff. That was pretty awesome.
We loved that there were watery playgrounds for the littler ones, even if Chippie didn’t. Perhaps we will keep taking him until he enjoys it whether he likes it or not?
Ten minutes after leaving, everyone had crashed. Of course, I photographed the moment and posted it on twitter …
… yep, a testament to how fun and long the day was; three sunburnt, tired kids and a photo posted upside down.
Oh, and yes, I came away burnt, bruised and grazed! Yet another testament to a great time!
Bloggers, Brunches and Boobies
Posted by: | CommentsAs if the week wasn’t crazy enough, today was another outing to a(nother) Kids Business Bloggers Brunch.
I my typical “I am very busy and important and this is why I get invited to such events” fashion, it commenced with me attempting to have a shower in peace whilst constantly reminding myself to ensure I made the kids’ school lunches before I got dressed in my nice top, making the kids lunches then recalling it is a School Special Lunch Day and I don’t actually have to make them lunch today, and finding myself standing outside the front of my house, wrapped in a towel, and consoling my three year old, whom had managed to smash his teeth into his tricycle, despite not actually riding it – or even being on it – at the time.
Am seriously hoping this series of semi-nakedness out the front is ensuring some interest from buyers in the house, and that someone will actually buy it soon.
Am not holding my breath.
Find jeans sticking out form under bed and locate a top that was still packed in the suitcase from the last few days’ travel. Must unpack at some point.
Thankfully, news of my oh so fabulous morning preceded me … or perhaps it was just my reputation that did? Either way, I arrived at the brunch venue and was asked “Would you like a drink?” and this vision that could only be have delivered by the gods awaited me …
Yep, a drink, Just For ME!
Once I was suitably bubbled up, off I went to mingle and explore.
My good friends, Coles, were there (I have lost a bit of contact with them, which has made me very sad, but was so happy to see them again ) with a vast sample of their upcoming Christmas Fare.
Including … I think this is SO COOL … a turkey that looks just like a turkey turkey, but has had the bones removed and is stuffed back into shape with scrumbly stuffing and all you need do, once your husband has you have cooked it, is just slice and serve. Love it!
Samples were sent home and the rum balls were opened and consumed immediately after our evening meal was vacuumed into various little boy mouths.
Speaking of vacuums, Sauber where there with their new cleaner to “assist Aussie families who suffer from asthma and allergies”. Despite not actually having any clue what they were talking about (I don’t “do” vacuuming) they still let me have a bit of a go at their snazzy new, maximum power, minimum noise, easy handling machine with new intelligent floor nozzle.
It was pretty cool, as far as vacuums go, and Grumpy Pants, should he ever have the opportunity to utilise one, would have no reason to have his Meatloaf: Bat Out Of Hell CD turned up so high that when I pass the neighbours three blocks away they ask “Grumpy vacuuming again?”
“Yes, yes he is. How can you tell?”
“Meatloaf,” they reply and we share a look between us.
Of course, I asked the all important question about the cleaner, because, quite frankly, allergies and asthma aren’t concerns in this house, and I have now worked out what to do with the rice that has not only fallen to the floor, but worked its way up the side of the wall unit and reached the ceiling fan.
No, there are more important things.
“So, how easy is it to retrieve Lego sucked up by the cleaner?”
“Well, technically, it wasn’t designed to retrieve Lego pieces. Its main purpose is to clean floors.”
She almost lost me there, because Lego Loss is a traumatic experience in itself in our household. She gave me a Lego Retrieval Demonstration anyway.
Phew.
It was, however, Vita-Weat that caught my attention, because they are a staple in this house. They not only feature prominently in the school lunch box most days, but are some days the lunch for the day. Mostly when we’ve run out of bread and I have a case of Can’t Be Arsed and/or Grumpy has gone off to work, it’s before I’ve finished MUG and I can’t get my head around three kids in a breadless house and acquiring more. Too Hard Basket or Mummy Is A Basket Case are my two options.
They are also readily used as “quick, we need to leave, eat something” snacks between school and whatever it is we have on that afternoon, late night snacks, when we’ve run out of all other food in the house snacks and meals, and when we have picnics. And I’m sure there’s more.
(I’m not just saying this either. It’s all true. Vita-Weat have saved the kids from going to school with peanut butter on a playing card for their lunch on more than one occasion!)
Vita-Weat, some time ago, came out with sandwich sized Vita-Weaty thingies. Basically, it was their “standard” biscuits in bread-slice-size. They were attending the Bloggers Brunch to show off their new range of “Lunch Slices”.
They come in “four yummy flavours” and have had their design re-jigged so they don’t fall apart when you bite into them (a design flaw of the aforementioned/first run sandwich sized Vita-Weat), yet still retain the wormy thing when you put butter and Vegemite on them and squish two together.
I sampled a few at the Brunch, and am suitably impressed, and will feel substantially less guilt when I send the kids to school with these instead of “real proper sandwiches” as they resemble sandwiches much more.
And the seeds and stuff in them will make the teacher think I am a good mother as I am sending them to school with healthy shit.
On second thought, I think I may covet them for myself, as I foresee these being much more interesting for my own lunch, as I sit at my computer, blogging, writing, and creating useful resources and have the option of Vegemite sandwich on wholemeal bread that has been left open on the kitchen bench all morning as I appear to be the only one in this house capable of folding the bag over the bread, effectively sealing it, and putting it away in the purpose built bread box I acquired some years ago.
Yep, I think I will … lunch for me and a fallback when my parenting skills are somewhat inadequate …
All in all, it was a fabulous morning and I got to go home and collect my kids from school and childcare and make pizzas for them, before drinking wine and collapsing on couch.
T’is all in a day’s work.
A Review: Skylanders
Posted by: | CommentsSome days I get bored. And others I just like to fuck with my kids’ heads.
Last week was one of those days. The postie arrived with a parcel for me. Terribly exciting. But that’s because I really need to get out more often.
*sigh*
Anyhoo, it contained a Skylanders kit for the Wii, complete with portal, three skylanders and – my favourite bit – batteries! Because I know we have some … somewhere …
I’d been to see a pre-launch preview of the game a while back, and now had the game for real to play with. Although it is aimed at boys (and girls) aged 8-12 years, I didn’t let that bother me. I set it up (easy peasy – also a bonus) at just the right time.
Yup, with enough time to have me well established and into the game, just as my kids arrived home from school. Where I took great pleasure in saying “Nup, it’s mine. So bad luck. Now go and unpack your bags, and unstack dishwashers and feed cats and stuff,” whilst I kept playing.
And playing.
And playing until they were suitably tormented and crying. Ok, maybe I didn’t take it as far as crying, per se, but I did add another one or two “No, I do believe this was sent to me, so piss off, I’m playing,” as and when needed.
From my perspective; graphics are pretty damned good. There were lots of instructions and dialogue so old people like my could work it out. Compared to other Wii games my kids have that are in a similar vein, the way the instructions came up was well refined.
(For those who care, when the little creatures speak to you, the words come up in sync with their speaking, so there’s that whole “helping kids to read” stuff in there as well.)
I just like games that treat kids with dignity and respect and don’t have dodgy graphics, bad spelling or comic sans in their text descriptions. That was a bonus for me.
So, after the kids tormented me for long enough and made me cry, I handed over the controls.
Feedback from them was that it was challenging, but easy to follow, “great cos there’s lots of killing stuff” and “some of the things they say are really funny” – again, respect for children and speaking to them at their level.
They loved the little figurines that are the characters … and unlike other games where you have to flick through characters on a screen to choose yours, these ones are a figurine that sits on the magic portal and .. magically I guess, appears on the screen in front of you. And if you need a character of a different element (each of the 30+ characters that eventually come with the game represent one of 6 elements; fire, water, earth, tech etc etc etc) to get you into another area, you simply lift one off and place another on the portal. Just. Like. That.
And when your children don’t get off the frigging thing when you ask them 17 times, instead of rummaging under a chip packet or behind the couch for the remote, you simply walk up and remove the characters from the portal. Just. Like. That.
Then they are left watching the game still going on and being able to do nothing about it. And it is fun, except they have to complain and yell a bit before getting off.
They did like it very much though, and I am the Most Awesome Mum In The World (or was, but that stopped when I removed their figurines) and already they are asking for more characters (which, incidentally, come in packs of three, or individually).
I was suitably surprised that the game retails for only $99 (RRP – obviously each outlet will decide what they want to sell it for) (for the Wii version anyway) and comes compatable with all platforms, Playstation and X-box and PC and the rest of them.
Oooh, also, the little characters keep the points and powers and stuff they’ve earned when you save the game (not when you remove them randomly – yes, yes, evil mummy, I know) and can be transported between platforms.
In no-techno speak, that means your poor deprived child, who only has a Wii, can take his Spyro character figurine (for example) to his friend’s, who has a Playstation or an X-Box (or both) and play on their Skylanders portal, without a problem.
Unless, of course, their friend does not have Skylanders, and then it is a serious problem.
Overall, I’m happy with it. The kids love it and therefore I am happy with it for different reasons, as well.
Skylanders is available from most gamey places that sell this kind of stuff, and places like Target and KMart and Big W etc.
Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this review. I was not even offered a vodka. I was, however, sent a free, full version of the Skylanders game, for Wii, for the purpose of screwing with my kids and tormenting them reviewing it, and then blogging the review. On here. Which you’ve just read. Unless, of course, you only read disclaimers and move on …
Product (Food) Review: Mini Rice Cakes
Posted by: | CommentsWhen contacted and asked if I would like to test and review this particular product, the gorgeous Sophie who sent me the request had included the following in her email:
I thought you may be interested in road testing the Mini Rice Cakes with your little angels for a potential blog post.
I figured she had the wrong person, as I don’t have any little angels that I’m aware of. But as the words “dark chocolate” were involved, and the obvious opportunity for some bribery good parenting was imminent, I couldn’t say no.
The words “mini” don’t usually appeal to me when it comes to food, but … well, it’s food so I’m not gonna knock it back.
Anyhoo, I was sent a box of these Mini Rice Cakes created by Table Of Plenty.
I love this bit. The idea came about because Kate Weiss (the creator, and an Aussie mum) who has a daughter with a gluten intolerance, dipped your stock standard rice cakes in chocolate and yogurt and stuff and they got all eaten.
So she manufactured them and now sells them in packets. And, yes, they’re gluten free.
Thankfully, they arrived just before the school holidays, and provided me with many, many opportunties to sit down in front of my kids with an open packet and eat them in front of them until they behaved.
One packet survived and was taken on a Family Day Out (trains, not surprisingly, for something differetn) and kept the children from bitching for all of about 3.7 minutes.
Placing my Former Personal Trainer And Anal Food And Label Reading Hat on, they still pack a considerable amount of fat into them.
But if we’re being honest with ourselves, um .. they contain chocolate so there’s bound to be a considerable amount of fat, yes? You’re kidding yourself if you’re shocked by this.
However, given they’re mini, a handful won’t send you over the edge, and they’re a great little snack to have on hand.
Putting my I Like Yummy Food Hat on, they are yummy. I’m not much of a sweet tooth, so not huge on chocolate in large amounts. These mini rice cakes give you the taste without making you feel sick.
I, personally, wasn’t a fan of the milk chocolate ones, but am not a fan of milk chocolate in general, so not sure if that counts or not.
The dark choc ones, however, *drool* … these were perfectly adequate for providing that scrumptious, dark chocolately taste I do so like. Again, without the after-consumption-nausea.
I was quite partial to the strawberry yoghurt coated ones as well. Just a bit delicious.
And the kids … well, they enjoyed watching me eat them. Also, the quite liked it when I let them look at one up close.
Oh, ok then. I did let them have a taste. But not much. I don’t like to share. So I didn’t.
The kids quite liked them though. So that’s handy for when you do need a nice little snack on hand.
Anyhoo, you can get them at most Coles supermarkets for $3.99 per packet. Not bad at all.
Enjoy (and if you’ve tried them, would love to hear your thoughts)
In My Lion of Work – an experience
Posted by: | CommentsIn my role as a mother who rambles about the mundane crap in her life in a desperate bid to keep a dubious grasp on her sanity blogger, I am occasionally asked to partake in some stuff; cooking of meals, checking out products and being invited to do some cool stuff. And some not so cool stuff.
This was a “cool stuff” thing. I was invited by one of my PR contacts – PorterNovelli – to join them in the re-release of one of my fave movies, The Lion King. Kids and husbands invited.
They made it slightly more appealing than “hey, why not go to the movies with your kids and husband – that’ll be fun, won’t it! Hurrah!” (ahem, um, no) they tossed in the Director’s Suite at Hoyts, and a sleepover at the Melbourne Zoo. Mostly, I was just wrapt that someone threw me a lifeline in school holiday, week 2 and it was two days of stuff I didn’t have to fill by thinking up something to do myself.
It wasn’t just my family and I, either. A couple of other blogger chicks I know were also coming along: Kate from Picklebums, Nicole of Planning With Kids, Marita from Stuff With Thing, Joni and her The Diary of Joni and Anya, Toushka of Touska Lee,and Shae from Yay For Home - all adequate wine drinkers, so I was in good company.
After convincing my somewhat concerned 8 year old that we would, indeed be fine, and not be eaten by lions, again (that’s telling him again, not a repeat of being lion fodder) we set off for Melbourne Central and Hoyts and the Director’s Suite area.
Godzilla, despite being one of the last children to arrive, managed to secure a a controller for the game they had set up, and Monkey Boy went to have his face painted. Amongst the gorgeous pink lions and purple butterflies, he opted for a Vampire. She didn’t “do” vampire but did a somewhat convincing skull.
We were advised to head to the bar to order drinks and popcorn, where my kids did determine I was, indeed, the Worst Mother In The World, as, this time, they were allowed a drink and popcorn each and didn’t have to share. Like I make them do every other time. Because I’m so horrible and all.
They settled in to their seats well. After a considerable amount of “Ooooh – this is SO COOL!”
The Lion King is still a fantastic movie. I love it. I also love that Chippie is now old enough to get it, just as the other two are kinda growing out of it.
(Not enough people getting shot or cut up withight sabres or some such rubbish.)
Then we went to the zoo, which, despite being about 7 minutes from our house and somewhere we either visit or drive past quite a bit, Grumpy managed a wrong turn and we got stuck in traffic.
Still, we made it … and we were directed to the old elephant area, including the teensy (for an elephant) historic site of the elephant hut. Bong Su, of Melbourne Zoo Bong Su fame, was a former resident.
The grassy “play area” was set up with tents, and we were asked to choose our own. I let the kids choose, because I can be nice like that sometimes:
But then I made them change, becuase this one was too far from where they’d set up the wine table.
(I told them we were moving closer to the toilets. Cos I’m nice like that. Sometimes.)
Wine and deliciously scrumptious food was served before we were ushered into the former-elephant sleeping area/human dining area and fed a very nice dinner, indeed.
After which we walked it off with a nightime wander around the zoo, led by our two Keepers (am not sure if they were Animal Keepers or Bloggers & Their Families Sleeping Overnight Keepers????) Michelle and Jackie.
It was pretty spesh. Not only did we get to see the tigers and Bong Su the elephant by night. we were taken into behind the scenes and restricted areas, where we were introduced to animals not exhibited at the zoo, from a slow loris called Spook, an albino carpet snake and a plethora of children making totally innane and irrelevant comments at inexplicable times.
We learnt that elephants sleep only about 4 hours a day and can eat 80-100kg of food per day.
This may explain my levels of fatigue and body fat … just saying.
My Chippie included, as we were being told of the various species of possums around the zoo, he informed us “I .. I … I got some rocks!” Indeed he did. And carried them around the whole night.
We were walked around to the Tapir, an animal that is kept indoors during the day as the Melbourne sun can be far too harsh for it (don’t laugh … Melbourne really can have some bitey sun!) and it can burn very easily. This one had, sadly, lost an eye due to exposure to the sun.
(Technically not “lost”. It was removed by a vet. It didn’t just pop out and roll under the couch, never to be seen again)
I was the one to guess what they were called … because they were featured on an episode of Futurama a few nights back! Clever, huh?
(Also, I read the signs at the zoo. Sometimes. It wasn’t just Futurama. Ok??)
Then they got the kids to crouch down and run past the snow lepoard saying “ni, ni, ni, ni, ni” to draw it out of hiding. Apparently, snow leopards like to eat small things that run and say “ni, ni, ni”. Who knew?
Our final stop was the lion cage, where they did, and do, bugger all but lie around. Apparently, the sleep for about 20 hours a day. Nice.
Sadly, I missed out on participating in this activity 
It was time for supper – yes, SUPPER! – and bed. Which was a mattress and sleeping bag in a tent. And yet another conversation about the likelihood of being consumed by a lion.
*sigh*
Chippie and Grumpy went home at bedtime as kids under 5 are unable to sleep over. I was not too put off by this arrangement
I was woken at 5am by a child needing a wee, and were treated to the sounds of crazed penquins, a variety of birds and some monkeys going off!
A breakky of bacon and egg pizza and coffee was had, before we set off again for another expedition.
We got to feed the giraffe. Or is that “giraffes”? Which was also pretty special. And just amazing. They’re incredible creatures up close.
Then to see Timmy the endangered tree kangaroo (another behind the scenes thingy). We were let into the cage, and there was a brief moment where a telepathic thought ran through the minds of all we mums in attendance … “should we put them all in and lock the door?????” But we didn’t.
Here we learnt about an incredible conservation program initiated by the zoo in a bid to save him and his kind. It was quite fascinating, really.
Also, Monkey Boy just looks like Alice Cooper because we had a bit of trouble removing his face paint from yesterday.
Last stop was the penguins – who are so cute! – and feeding time. Unlike my children, they rejected any fish that had fallen to the ground and just refused to eat them. I asked the penguin keeper if she could train my kids to do the same. They only work with animals that can be even remotely trained, she informed me.
Then it was time to go
We were a little exhausted after much excitement, and all the kids were given a goody bag stuffed full of Lion King by Porter Novelli (thank you Mandy and girls for your awesome hard work!) … and I will be doign a giveaway shortly for a similar bag!
Waited around for Grumpy to come and collect us …
… and had a chat about the fun of the night before, and this morning.
The Zoo’s Roar ‘N’ Snore is something that I’ve said “I’d like to do that one day”, so, obviously, I jumped at the chance when someone else was organising it.
I have to add – it was an experience that was so much more than I anticipated and I was highly impressed. By all of it.
The tour guides/zoo keepers (Michelle & Jackie) who looked after us were professional, yet fun, were so great with the kids AND the adults, were clearly passionate about the animals and FULL of information. They made us feel comfortable and did an incredible job of putting up with us.
Full credit to them!
Food was plentiful and very nice! Most important as far as I’m concerned.
It was an amazing experience. It was also very well organised and coordinated and I’m really impressed (as were the kids) with just how much other STUFF we got to do whilst there. It wasn’t just a sleepover and a bit of a look around the zoo at night.
We really were treated to some very special experiences.
The whole “thing” – the movie and the zoo was beautifully done by Mandy and the team at Porter Novelli – thank you.
The release of The Lion King on DVD, Blu-Ray and 3D Blu-Rayis on October 12 -when it will be available in shops.
And if you’d like more info on the Zoo’s Roar ‘N’ Snore, the link is http://www.zoo.org.au/Melbourne/Roar_n_Snore
(I’ll be doing a The Lion King giveaway shortly … I’ve rambled far to long on this post … )
Disclaimer: I was not paid to write any part of this post nor to review it. The review was completely “optional”. I was invited, as a guest, of Porter Novelli and Disney to attend both the movie and Roar N Snore, as were my children and husband. It was just so much fun, I couldn’t not write about it
