Baby Goes Retro

Notice anything spiffy sitting over there in my side bar?

I'll give you a hint, it's a groovy little square that shows, amongst other things, some super cute bubbas wearing amazingly funky clothes.

Why am I banging on about this? Because *drumroll please* I'd like to welcome on board my latest Aussie Blogger's Conference sponsor, the super fabulous Baby Goes Retro!

I can hear the crowd going wild. In fact I'm pretty sure a Mexican Wave is taking place across lounge rooms and study nooks across Australia. Just be careful if your laptop is actually on your lap - I take no responsibility for flying Toshiba's.

You MUST go and check out all the funky threads at Baby Goes Retro. They have a truly unique collection of street smart Scandinavian clothing for babies and kids. If you want bold colour and beautiful fabrics on your tot, then head on over. You can even get 10% discount for signing up to their awesome newsletter (be sure to tell them Where's My Glow sent you!).

Some of the delicious outfits on offer at Baby Goes Retro

But it's not just wicked clothes. You can get everything from bibs, rattles, cups, dummy clips, mobiles, bathers, even shoes and accessories (some that are especially for Mums and Dads -woo!).

So please show them some lovin' and stop by the Baby Goes Retro website - for those who are feeling a little light in the purse department after Christmas there is even a SALE section! My favourite four letter word.

You can also find Baby Goes Retro on Facebook, Twitter and their Blog.

2010 In a Nutshell

Well not really in a nutshell - I wouldn't want anyone with a nut allergy to be unable to read it.

It's been a massive year. Easily the biggest, most jam-packed year of my life. So excuse me while I go link crazy. I hope you'll click on some that take your fancy.

In life BT (Before Tricky):

• I turned in to an old man and had an interesting conversation with a transgender customer
• I've freaked out about becoming a mother and tried drugs in a room full of people
• Plus I bitched about hair growth and being told I was fat (at 9 months preggers)

But my proudest moment would have to be getting the drug-free birth I had dreamed about with Tricky!

Life Post Tricky consisted of your normal 'New Mum' stuff like:

• Learning how to breastfeed with a staph infection, sleepless nights and a getting so run down I ended up in hospital
• Encountering my first baby erection and discovering how hard it is to cut microscopic fingernails

And the not so normal or often talked about stuff like:

• Tricky being diagnosed with a skull deformity and having surgery
• My previously tamed Black Dog starting to froth at the mouth

But things started looking up when:

• I met a lovely bunch of women at Mothers' Group
• I realized just how freakin awesome my mum is
• I got sponsored to go to AusBlogCon2011
• My little blog turned one and I turned 29

So yeah, it's been a helluva year! Here's hoping that 2011 brings some new and exciting times, but hopefully less drama.

Happy New Year everyone!

 

The Christmas Period

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung at the end of each bed,
When Glowless had a visit from her old friend, Red.

Red! You're here! Who invited you?,
You've snuck up on me right out of the blue.
I knew you'd be back but just not today,
I was only expecting Santa, his reindeer and sleigh.

It's been fifteen long months since you went for a wander,
And the absence didn't make my heart grow any fonder,
Of the bloating and cramping and the ever present pain,
Plus the chocolate cravings are simply insane.

So off to the servo Map Guy and I drove,
To find it was a proverbial treasure trove.
Everything from milk to batteries and socks,
But all I needed was one little box.

I hunted the aisles like a woman possessed,
To find some items that could help my 'guest',
I passed the Pringles and the chocolate Magnums,

Even old Chisel and Farnsy albums.

There they are! What? They're nine dollars fifty?

That's a lot to pay for someone so thrifty!

I wanted to rant and cause a big stink,

But I didn't, I just paid, and the clerk gave me a wink*.

I returned to the car with my package in hand,

Another festive hiccup I'd have to withstand,

Why tonight, Red? Your timing's just shocking,

I'd rather a bracelet in my Christmas stocking.

I looked up at the moon, a bright silver crescent,

And reflected on my first Christmas present,

I don't like you much, you're annoying and icky,

But without you, Red, I wouldn't have Tricky. 
 

* Seriously, the guy who served me actually winked. I could understand winking if I was buying condoms, but c'mon, pads?!

'Tis the Season

It's Tricky's first Christmas so I have, of course, taken him to sit on some random fat guy's knee for a photo. We couldn't manage to get him to smile. But hey, at least he wasn't screaming.

 'Tis the season to reverse your stranger danger policy and get photographic evidence

I've put the photo in frames, in snow-domes (that are mocking the 38C weather prediction for Christmas Day) and even in baubles to hang from the tree. Every member of mine and Map Guy's family have now got some sort of Christmas paraphernalia with Tricky's non-smiling face on it. Whether they like it or not.

 'Tis the season to give crap, cheap present

But that's not all.

I've taken heaps of photos of him in his little Santa outfit. Then, because he's adorable it was hot, just his nappy and his Santa hat.

I is cute, right?

The child beams when I take a photo with my phone but will not crack a smile when I'm paying a photographer to do it.

 'Tis the season to be ripped off

Tomorrow, when Tricky wakes for his first feed of the day (usually around 4am - yes, he still wakes at least twice a night for feeds even though he's 6 months old - hence the bags under my eyes), Map Guy and I will hit the road for our long trek to Albany to stay with the Out-Laws In-Laws for the week.

'Tis the season to spend time with people you normally don't see all year

The Glow-mobile. Two adults. One baby. A dog. 430km of highway. And a partridge in a pear tree.

'Tis the season to travel long distances, pee in the bushes and have lunch in a roadhouse

So here's wishing you and yours a safe and very happy Christmas.

The UWA Extension giveaway is still running - if you'd like to WIN 1 of 5 tickets to a Toilet Training seminar run by Perth baby whisperers Caroline's Angels, then enter here

Baby Talk - A Giveaway

I am a knowledge junkie. Books are my crack cocaine. I cannot get enough. But since Tricky was born I haven't really had much time to sit and read, so I've been feeling a little out of the learning loop. So when the lovely people at UWA Extension offered me free tickets to their 'Baby Talk' series I totally flipped! Blogging definitely has it's perks!

UWA Extension (the community arm of The University of Western Australia) have partnered with wonderful knowledge-buckets such as Jude Blereau (author of Wholefood for Children), Caroline Radford (of Caroline's Angels fame) and most recently Ngala to create some fantastic sessions covering everything from toilet training, toddler brain development, nutrition and sleep (precious, lovely sleep! I'll be paying extra attention at that one!).

On January 30th I'll be attending the toilet training seminar and I've got FIVE passes to give away valued at $49 each! 

At the seminar you'll learn the best ways to approach toilet training so that it's fun for kids and easier for you.

To be in the running to WIN one of these fab tickets and join me at the session you have to:

• Be a follower of Where's My Glow and
• Leave a comment telling me why you need help with toilet training your toddler! You can still enter if you have a younger baby, it'll help when you get to that stage!

To grab two extra entries you can tweet this comp (WIN tickets to a toilet training course thanks to @UWAextension and @Glowless http://bit.ly/g04iwo ) and share it on Facebook (WIN tickets to a toilet training course thanks to UWA Extension and @Where's My Glow http://bit.ly/g04iwo ). Leave a separate comment telling me you've done it.

If you win, you get to hang out with me - that alone should make you want to enter. Alternatively you can sit far away from me wearing dark glasses and a trench coat while I nerd it up in the front row taking notes.

If you need more convincing, check out the lovely things people had to say after the last session:

Well, its official, YOU ARE THE BEST!!! So THANK YOU....THANK YOU.....THANK YOU! Will be recommending your services once again to more people.

Michelle

Caroline has a lovely manner, a practical approach, excellent knowledge, great structure - very valuable and enjoyable session.

Justine P.

An outstanding presentation - thank you.

I feel I have greater confidence and knowledge to start the toilet training process when my daughter is ready. Thank you.

Great Course - very informative.

What a great initiative adopted by UWA!! We've used Caroline's Angels in the past and value their education, knowledge and advice, so to see the partnership with UWA is a great comfort to us 'mere' parents!

Michelle S 

Entry is open to WA residents only (unless you'd like to hop on a flight over?) and closes at 8pm AWST on 30th December 2010. Make sure you enter using a valid email address so that you can be contacted when you win! Good luck and I'll see you at UWA! 

For more information and to book your ticket for the Baby Talk series, check out the UWA Extension website or the Caroline's Angels website.


Win Free Stuff - Find the best Australian Competitions brought together all in one spot. It's free and updated daily!