Life...

Two Homes

Separation is a very stressful on-going event for any family to go through. It is a heart wrenching situation for both parents, however usually the ones affected most are the children.

So I was very interested to read an interview on Her Business Life with Rebecca Jackson of Two Homes. Rebecca runs Two Homes– an information and resource hub for separated parents.

Two Homes is Australia’s only free online resource that provides Australian single parents with information, tools and resources that guide and empower them to do what ever they need to, to help them and their children through this difficult time.

Find the full interview {HERE}

Are you Pregnant?

Your Cheeky Monkey has teamed up with a heap of other great businesses such as Scamps Eco Boutique in NZ to form the Mums to Be club... Every month is a great giveaway and November members go into the draw to WIN a set of my oh-so-practical nursing cloths!!

All you need to do to be in the running is sign up to the Mums to Be Newsletter along with your valid Due Date - click HERE.

And you can check out the Mums to Be facebook page HERE to keep updated on the prizes each month.

Good Luck!

Melbourne Photographer Offer

Maree Jaeger Photography, based in Melbourne, has just put out a special offer:

"If you are pregnant or about to have a baby the first person to book a photo session- will receive a funky tiger burp/shoulder cloth from Your Cheeky Monkey!"

So if you are in Melbourne and are looking to book a pregnancy or new baby photo sessions, read the full offer on Maree Jaeger Photography's blog HERE..


Don't forget too the 2010 Little Lights Calender is out ~ ALL proceeds are going to the Starlight Foundation so it is a great opportunity to buy a beautiful calender for next year and support a fantastic charity. All photography in the calendar is done by Maree Jaeger Photography.

Find out how to purchase one HERE!

Great value baby products in this weeks super set!

I have put together a fantastic Super Set for you today - all products to suit boy or girl babies, and up to about 18 months old.

All 5 items have a RRP of approx. $50, today the pack is 40% off which works out at only $30!

Find them at Your Cheeky Monkey HERE!

The complete secrets of happy children

During the recent Diaper Decisions Great Down Under Nappy Hunt I was lucky enough to win this fantastic book from the fabulous website and resource The Natural Parent, just by signing up to their newsletter.

I am a huge fan of Steve Biddulph, and I do not have this one in my collection so I'm sure you can tell just how happy I was to win this book!

This version "The complete secrets of happy children" is actually 2 books in one:

In "The Secret of Happy Children" you will discover whats really happening inside kids minds, and what to do about it. And you will find out how to be a stronger, more loving, more definite and more relaxed parent. You'll learn how to let go of old, negative approaches, and free up more energy to enjoy your kids and your life.

"More Secrets of Happy Children" (written with Shaaron Biddulph) tackles other important concerns of parents today such as how to help toddlers and children feel secure and settled; discipline methods that work (without hitting or yelling); making sure your love gets through; being the best kind of dad; and the childcare dilemma.

I can't wait to get stuck into it now, thank you Sarah for offering this fantastic giveaway!

I highly recommend you have a look at The Natural Parent, be sure to join their informative newsletter, and you will find this book and many more soon in their Store Section.

Cherry Mag Issue 10 Out Now!

The new issue of online magazine "Cherry" is now out - this months theme is Make It Fun - and as usual there are heaps of fantastic articles and competitions.

Get moving over to the Cherry Mag website and check it out!

You can go directly to the mag HERE!

Healthy eating for Kids

Every Mum knows what a struggle it can be to keep a balanced diet in place for the family, especially for toddlers and pre-schoolers when fussiness really sets in. On the other hand it is vital to set up good eating habits that will serve our children well throughout their lives. So I have put together here ten handy hints that I try to use to help keep a healthy balanced eating plan in place.

1. Small children have small stomachs. I have found that when at home it is very easy to leave a plate of cut up fruit, sultanas etc within reach of your children whether on the bench or in the fridge. This gives your child the encouragement to eat when hungry without any forcing. I personally find my sons love it when I do this - they like making their own choices about when to eat something and without it being an issue they tend to eat more anyway. Please note with this, I don’t include crackers or biscuits etc, it is only fruit or vegetables.

2. Eat dinner as a family. Life gets considerably easier when your children eat what you do – make the most of it and always try to serve your meals so the whole family eats together. This encourages your children to eat what you do – try and remember that you kids will do as you do, not do as you say!! Even if you think they won’t touch that salad or vegetable, always put some on their plate – you never know what will go down!

3. Make meals with lots of hidden vegetables. Stews and pasta sauces are great to hide lots of vegies in – think puree’s, grated etc. In a big stew or casserole you can easily include as many as 10 different vegetables. Doing this also makes the meat portion of the meal stretch further.

4. Remember that what you don’t introduce into your family’s diet won’t be missed. For example, if you only ever serve brown bread its much easier to keep that habit rather than trying to switch from white to brown when your kids are old enough to know the difference.

5. Don’t use food as a bribe. Instead of saying “If you pick all your toys up you can have some chocolate” wait until they have tidied up then say “Thank you, for doing such a great job picking your toys up you can have a fruit jelly”.

6. Don’t “forbid” certain foods in your household like chips or lollies. Everything in moderation is usually the best approach, if you ban certain foods it makes it all the more appealing to children to want that food even more. This mostly applies to school aged children but it helps to have a balanced view of food from the outset.

7. When you offer a snack or meal to your child, be sure to be clear that is all that on offer and nothing else will be available until the next meal time. This is the best way to end up with a fussy eater, by being concerned your child has not had enough to eat and offering something “yummier”. They very soon figure this one out and will have you dancing to their tune in no time at all! No child ever starves of his or her own accord.

8. Stick to fruit for dessert. For toppings think yogurt or a dab of custard. You could even sprinkle some hundreds and thousands over the top for a bit of excitement!

9. In summer you can make your own ice-blocks. Simply blend up tinned or fresh fruit with yogurt for a yummy creamy treat. You can even buy special plastic re-usable ice-block kits to freeze your ice-blocks in.

10. Don’t turn mealtimes into an emotional battleground. If your child manages to get such an interesting response from you for not eating they will know that it is a fantastic way to get some attention from you. Just offer the food, and if it is not eaten at the end of the meal remove the dish without any threats or trying to force feed.

I hope these hints give you some new ideas on feeding your toddler or pre-schooler, and feel free to contact me if you would like to pass on any of your great tried and tested hints!

WIN over $400 in prizes!

From now until 5pm on the 11th of December 2009, every purchase from Your Cheeky Monkey of the book "What I Wish I Knew Before I Became A Mother" goes into the draw to win a share of $400 in prizes for Christmas!


Don't miss out on this fantastic offer, make sure you grab your copy either for yourself or as a beautiful Christmas gift for a New Mum or someone who is pregnant.

Only $19.95 and you will find them {HERE}

Free Masterclass Workshop!

I don't know if you've ever heard of Psychotactics.com. I've enjoyed their website and have found it to have very useful business/marketing information.

Just the other day, I got an invitation from Melinda of WAHM Biz Builder that said Psychotactics were giving away a workshop they sell for $2500. And that they are doing a test and giving a limited number of copies away absolutely FREE...No charge. This workshop, the Brain Alchemy Masterclass, explains why structure—not marketing—is critical to grow a business effectively.

A free giveaway like this would normally have a catch of some sort, but this one (strangely) doesn't. I've made sure I've signed up to their waiting list, so that I can get my copy of these goodies soon. You should check it out, and if you find it useful, you should get on the waiting list before it's filled.

Here's the link: http://www.psychotactics.com/free-goodies

"Purely Natural Living" Review

PURELY NATURAL LIVING – SOAPS & BATH SALTS

Soaps to me would have to be one of the most essential and well-used family products. Whether in the bath or shower, whether it is Dad or Bub, soap is used every day in our household – and probably yours too!

Purely Natural Living is a company that specializes in handmade soaps and bath salts – and I have been enjoying sampling a range of their products (along with the excellent technical input of my two sons!).

I’ll start with the soaps. Before even using the soaps, I liked how they were presented – I could tell they are handcrafted, however the imperfections and the labelling and wrapping are what make them different from the mass produced soaps, to me much more appealing. Next an inspection of the labels was a nice surprise – ingredients such as olive oil, coconut oil and goat’s milk dominate along with added lye and essential oils and the other odd ingredient. Lovely! It is so nice to use something on my skin that is not just a list of weird numbers.

Listed below are the soaps I was given to try along with some comments about each one.

· PURE OLIVE OIL with lavender – beautifully presented soap in a fancy shape, with a light lavender scent. Just gorgeous to use, and would make a terrific gift for your Mum or Grandmother.

· SPEARMINT & SEAWEED SOAP – I thought this a very unique soap, the smell is refreshing and uplifting and my husband likes using it as much as me. Great for morning use.

· PSYCHO SOAP – Well the name alone catches your attention doesn’t it! This one has lots of yummy scents including amber and patchouli – but the interesting feature is the red lather. I like using this just to see the red bubbles, and of course its heaps of fun for the kids to use.

· BARE NAKED SOAP with Goats Milk – To me this is the stand out soap. I just adore using it - it is so soft and creamy and doesn’t leave the skin feeling tight or dry at all. This one has no scent or colour so is perfect for babies or those with skin conditions. I am now a big fan of Goats Milk Soap for my whole family and will continue using it.

I also was lucky enough to try the Bath Salts. Not surprising, I have to rave about the Goddess Bath Salts – just the name alone is enough to win me over let alone having an excuse to bathe in a sea of pink bath salts with rose petals… take it from me, you just have to try these! I managed to sneak a bath in at the end of a very stressful day using the Goddess Bath Salts, and afterwards felt like a new girl!

The great thing about the Purely Natural Living soaps is that they are so natural and soft to use I have no hesitation using them for my sons (in fact I wouldn’t have a problem using them for a baby either). I did notice that you need to take care of handmade soaps, don’t leave them sitting in a pool of water or they won’t last very long. The only other thing to me to comment on was that I thought the Business Name labels could be a little clearer, I thought they are a bit hard to read and I feel you need your business name featuring loud and clear!

Find these beautiful handmade products at the Purely Natural Living online store - http://www.purelynaturaliving.com

PURELY NATURAL LIVING GOATS MILK SOAPS NOW IN-STORE AT YOUR CHEEKY MONKEY!

I am honoured to be conducting this review as part of the “Product Review Team” at CONNECT 2 MUMS – visit www.connect2mums.com.au to find out more!

I love Goats Milk Soap!

After being fortunate enough to try the Goat's Milk Soap for a review on Purely Natural Living products (watch this space for the review!) I can tell you right now I was hooked.

Goats Milk soap does not leave your skin dry or tight, it is fantastic for those with sensitive skin (and those who like to use something simple and natural on their skin).

In fact I love this soap so much I asked Rebekah to make some batches for me - one for Baby and one for Mum.... they are now in-store at Your Cheeky Monkey, make sure to try one with your next order!

YCM Goat's Milk Soap for Gorgeous Girls & Mums
YCM Goat's Milk Soap for Bubs & Tots

The FUN Theory

Kids Learning IS Fun!

My sons at the ages of 4 and 3 are reaching the age of being exceedingly interested in letters, numbers, learning to tell the time, etc etc. I just love it actually, and as a parent hope that this thirst for knowledge and learning continues on through the school years.

To me, deciding to have a baby and raise a child is a huge responsibility - and one of our jobs is to facilitate and help this learning process in tandem with their teachers and mentors at pre-school and school.

While having children of a pre-school age this is quite an easy process to simply take the time to help your child learn their alphabet, how to write their name, how to begin telling the time on an analog clock (yes ok I'm old-fashioned!!). But do you like me find it a daunting prospect the thought of helping your child in school?

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to WIN from the gorgeous Jodie Maher at Kids Learning is Fun 2 books - "How to help your children" Subtraction Sums and Addition Sums.

If you follow this blog you will know that I have purchased educational products for my sons in the past from Kids Learning is Fun, and have been SO happy with them. These books are no different. While they are not applicable for me right now they certainly will be in a couple of years time. They are both 18 pages long of very detailed help for you as a parent to help your child learn these vital skills.

At Kids Learning is Fun you will also find a huge range of other products to help your child including reading, writing, spelling, literacy, the alphabet and numeracy.

So whether you are looking for products to help your child in a particular area they are having trouble with, or just general FUN learning products, Kids Learning is Fun is the place to go!

And YES Jodie produces all her products in each states requirements!!

Somehow I Won!!

I am actually sort of freaking out because the Your Cheeky Monkey Blog has WON the Parenting Category in the Business Mums Network Blog Awards!!

I personally didn't think I stood a chance considering the other amazing blogs in the awards, it certainly must have been close running between everyone.

A huge congratulations too to the other category winners:

Business: WAHM Biz Builder
Environment: Twinkle Lily
Women: Inside Out Style

As you can imagine, I feel very honored to be a part of this group of Women Bloggers, and I am now looking forward to continuing writing and posting here.

Thank you so much everyone who took the time to nominate and then vote for me. Its a lovely feeling to know people are reading my blog and enjoying it too!

A big thank you too to the incomparable Melissa Khalinsky of the Business Mums Network for everything she does not only with the Blog Awards, but for the Business Mums Network, the Business Mums Magazine, and for Mums in business in general. Melissa was one of the first people I turned to when I started Your Cheeky Monkey about a year ago and I have the greatest admiration for her in so many respects. Thanks again Melissa!

HALLOWEEN MADNESS OFFER

HALLOWEEN MADNESS OFFER ~ For every order over $90 at Your Cheeky Monkey receive a $15 Coles Myer Gift Card OR a $15 i-Tunes Gift Card!

See details RIGHT HERE!

Hair Accessories for Babies and Girls

Little girls and baby girls look just so cute when they have funky little accessories in their hair.

So I was so excited a few weeks ago to get to know the gorgeous Christine at 4 L'il Darlins - and I am now very happy to let you know that she has designed and made a range EXCLUSIVELY for Your Cheeky Monkey... from single clips to the most beautiful birthday packs, all at a very affordable price.

Have a look at the whole range in-store NOW right {HERE}

Super Set 22nd October

Today's Super Set is now uploaded onto the website! If you have a baby boy anywhere between newborn and 12-18 months this one is for you!! Only $21.90 - Find it HERE!

Business Mums News

If you are a follower of this blog, you would know that one of my favorite publications is the Business Mums Magazine.

Well in this mornings mail was a letter informing me that it is on hold for a couple of months so it can be re-evaluated to be back early next year bigger and better than ever! I just noticed too that on the Business Mums Network Blog Melissa has written a post explaining further the reasons behind her decision (see the post HERE). While I am missing receiving my Business Mums Magazine fix, I am looking forward to seeing the re-launched magazine!

Just a reminder too that the voting for the Business Mums Network Blog Awards finish on Friday so get over there now to place your votes! (Don't forget there are prizes to be won simply by voting!). I am a finalist in the Parenting Category so a vote my way would be much appreciated!

You can go directly to the voting page HERE. Thanks!

Chocolate

As a serious chocoholic, I am always trying to find justifications of just why chocolate is good for you. I found a very satisfying post at the EP Designs Blog with these excellent points:

* I could give up chocolate but I’m not a quitter.

* A day without chocolate is a day without sunshine.

* Life without chocolate is like a beach without water.

* I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process…. It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?

* Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate! Elaine Sherman

* Simply put… everyone has a price, mine is chocolate!

Right, just popping down to the shop to stock up ;-)

Super Set Thursday 15th October

Super Set Thursday is a one off offer of a value pack of products. The rules of SUPER SET THURSDAY ARE:

* Theme will vary each week
* There will only be limited numbers of each set, once sold out these will not be relisted
* Any remaining sets will be deleted at the end of that Thursday
* Normal flat rate post charges apply

The theme of this weeks SUPER SET is:

LITTLE GIRLS TREASURES - A selection of special products to suit a toddler right through to teens.

1 x Pink Googly Eye Bunny - Your Cheeky Monkey handmade

1 x Mini Tote - Your Cheeky Monkey handmade - Funky Jungle animal print outer from rescued furnishing fabric with a beautiful blue butterfly print inner.

1 x Dolphin Print Face-cloth with groovy crochet edging - Your Cheeky Monkey handmade PLUS

1 x A bar of beautiful Cherub Rubs soap to go with the face-cloth

AND lastly, to celebrate our gorgeous new exclusive range of girls hair accessories from 4 L'il Darlins:

1 x 3 pack of Bow Ties Bows on elastics in pink, red and purple.

Please note fabric print placements etc may vary slightly from picture shown here.

RRP approx. $60 - TODAY THE PACK of 5 items is $36 - that's 40% off!!


** Don't forget we have a flat rate post so feel free to add to your order and post will still be the same.

Product Review - Arbonne Body

For the last week or two I have been using the Arbonne REactivating Body Serum and the Arbonne REfinish Hydrating Body Lotion as part of my daily body skincare routine – these beautifully presented products are available online from Arbonne Independent Consultant Rebecca Doll at www.try.myarbonne.com

The first thing I noticed about these products was the lovely light orange scent. It is not overpowering or overwhelming, and it still allows the wearing of perfume without clashing (which is brilliant, I find creams that have a strong scent hard to wear as I like to use my favourite perfume in the day, and I don’t like any strong scents at night).

Following the product instructions, the Body Serum is used first. A quick couple of pumps and it takes just seconds to smooth over a little of the Body Serum. The Serum is absorbed super quick and feels quite refreshing and silky.

Next is the application of the Body Lotion. Because of using the Serum first, I found I only needed to use a tiny bit of the Lotion. It is very rich and creamy (but not at all greasy), and soaks in quickly so you don’t have to stand there for ages trying to rub it in. Using the cream each day has left my skin feeling very hydrated and smooth - even my husband has commented how soft my skin feels! And its great to use on feet too!

Even though you use the Serum and the Lotion as a 2-step product, I have found it is just as quick to use as other creams, which I was a little surprised about. Even though my skincare routines are practically non-existent being busy with children and businesses, I didn’t mind using these at all – in fact they brought a little luxury into my day using such gorgeous products each morning.

Overall, I found the Arbonne Body Serum and Body Lotion to be luxurious and effective products. The set would be a perfect treat for yourself if you need a body cream, or it would make a fantastic gift for a Mum or Mother In Law!

Visit www.try.myarbonne.com to read more about these lovely skincare products.

I am honored to be conducting this review as part of the “Product Review Team” at CONNECT 2 MUMS – visit www.connect2mums.com.au to find out more!