Mums On Top

Mum Reflections: War through a woman’s eyes

by mumsontop on June 19, 2013 in Mum Reflections, Smile

Women in War I have an uncle who is currently in Afghanistan, working for the security forces of the United Nations. I caught up with him last time he was home and heard the horror stories of war, and they reinforced to me how lucky we are to live in New Zealand.

Later on, while doing some surfing of the net, I came across this site, and was immediately taken in by the stunning photographs.

Taken by veteran combat photographer Heidi Levine in March of 2011 as Gadhafi’s air forces flew in low over the outskirts of the oil town of Brega, Libya, one of the images she captured that day was included in a Libyan civil war series of hers that won a Picture of the Year International award.

I’m sure she would be one fascinating woman to talk to. I’d love the chacne to take a look at all her photos as I’m sure the old saying is true “a picture speaks a thousand words“.

Rule of Mum: Six Princess Books You Actually Want Your Daughter To Read

by mumsontop on June 18, 2013 in Grow Great Kids, Rule of Mum

Part-Time Princess by Deborah Underwood and Cambria Evans. During the day, this little girl leads an ordinary life, but at night, she’s off to act as princess, where she invites a dragon to tea, tames the trolls (turns out they just love to dance and want to be invited to the ball!), and takes a bath with dolphins. A fun, sweet story.
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko. This classic princess story is still delightful, twenty-five years after it was published, about a princess who, after her fiance is captured by a dragon, seeks out the dragon and defeats him.
Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O’Malley, Carol Heyer and Scott Goto. A boy and a girl are supposed to tell a story together, but they’re having a hard time agreeing on how it should go. Will it be princesses? Giants? The two eventually work it out, with a story that will make you laugh on every page. This is a great read especially with the two very contrasting illustration styles that accompany the story. Continue reading →

Words for Mums: How to help friends who hurt

by mumsontop on June 17, 2013 in Reflect, Words for Mums

Helping hurt friends These last few weeks I seem to have heard too many stories about friends who have had bad news. Be it a sudden, surprise illness, or an unexpected change in their family situation these friends are all hurting but attempting to hold things together for their families sake.

Not being the best at thinking before I act (always with best intentions, but not always the best timing) I went in hunt of some suggestions by others in the same situation. I found this on the LAtimes site and there are some simple and useful “rules” for friends who are wanting to help others.

Here are the rules.

The person in the center ring can say anything she wants to anyone, anywhere.

She can complain and whine and moan and say, “Life is unfair” and “Why me?” That’s the one payoff for being in the center ring. Continue reading →

A Mum Did This:The Beautiful Body Book

by mumsontop on June 15, 2013 in A Mum Did This, Reflect

A Beautiful Body project is a book of 100 or more black & white photographs of mothers. Each photograph is accompanied by an essay, a narrative or a poem written by the women in the photograph exploring her personal journey with what beauty and feeling beautiful in a culture that alters over 90% of all media means to her.

The author and photographer Jade Beall has this to say: This journey of being a mother has been possibly the most incredible and challenging part of being alive that I have ever experienced. I had no idea I could function so well with little to no sleep for the last year since my boy was born. I have reached the most incredible highs and some of the darkest lows being a new mother. It is for this very reason, this becoming a mother, that brought forth this Beautiful Body Project

Real Live Mum: Jacinta

by mumsontop on June 14, 2013 in Love, Real Live Mums

What makes you a Mum? Being there for my children no matter what always and truly unconditionally.

Describe where you are right now. I am driven and focussed towards gaining my personal and professional goals to have the life my family deserves, more money and more family time.

Describe the last dream you remember having. Work related and a tad crazy! I think we were discussing our weight and I was obese!

Use five words to describe your family. Crazy, loud, happy, fun, loving.

What is one thing nobody knows about you? How much I pray and ask for help from above.

What is your most treasured item? My children first and foremost, my bed, my kitchen and my fireplace in winter. Continue reading →

Mum Reflections: The Australian Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake Book

by mumsontop on June 13, 2013 in Mum Reflections, Smile

The Australian Women's Weekly Birthday Cake Book I’m not talking any of the later imitations – I’m talking the original circa 1978 version with jelly swimming pools, milky bar and licorice piano keys and fairy castles with turrets made from cleverly disguised upside down ice cream cones.

My sister and I would spend at least six months pouring through the glossy pages weighing the merits of the sweet shop (with miniature candy and hand drawn sign) over the dolly varden with custom iced skirt (that starburst pattern was tricky).

As a result I can still name my birthday cakes from age 3-15, in order and totally from memory (it is important you know that I am not exaggerating here).

On reflection it was the perfect DIY manual – clear pictures, basic tricks and cheap, cheap, cheap which meant (from our mothers’ perspective) a bit of time in the kitchen with the Kenwood on full and a trip to the dairy for the freckles or musk sticks or chocolate fingers and you were home and hosed.

And the shame if all your mother produced was the stink old number of your birthday (inevitably rolled in the coloured dessicated coconut) ….proof she didn’t really, really love you.

As much grief as this book caused our mother throughout the 1980s, to this day, she refuses to pass on her battered, icing smeared copy to me. You can’t even get a decent first edition on trademe anymore and I’m not interested in those “new” versions – they’re only for pretenders.

Rule of Mum: 10 Tips for Teens and Money

by mumsontop on June 12, 2013 in Rule of Mum, Stay Sane

Teach your teen the value of saving early. The money they save today can double or triple over time due to interest (if they don’t touch it!).
Promote goal-setting. Talk with your teen about what their goals are for their money and how they plan to get there.
Establish a set budget. Help them establish a budget that allows them to pay for things they want and provides a buffer for unexpected expenses.
Encourage teens to earn their own money.
Establish a bank account. Bank accounts are important for building a financial history.
Talk about the debt trap. If a person takes out credit for an immediate want, then they may be paying for it out of future earnings for a long time.
Teach your teenager the value of shopping around and comparing prices and how to make their money go further by ditching the wants, buying on Trade Me and waiting for the sales, etc.
Help them to understand how they are pressured to spend, the choices they can make and the effect of delayed gratification on their finances.
Talk about how paying for the brand name eats money fast.
Explain how bank accounts, Eftpos, personal loans, overdrafts, hire purchase agreements and credit cards work.

Mum Thinking: Widows Don’t Wear Black

by mumsontop on June 11, 2013 in Mum Thinking, Think

Widow's Don't Wear Black A very special MoT, who is extremely close to our hearts, has had her life transformed forever by the death of her husband after a short illness. We think of her everyday and watch her from a distance hoping that if she falls we can run and catch her.

We admire her hugely as she battles with the combination of the overwhelming, all consuming grief of losing a gorgeous husband who “made his family his cosmos” and at the same time discovers life as a suddenly single mum of her young daughter.

Because we know she will read this we also wish she would try and eat something.

We’re constantly thinking of ways we can make her life easier or finding people we hope can help her out but sometimes there is literally nothing you can do. There aren’t too many online groups, guides or blogs that support or document the life of young widows.

As is often the way, sometimes the person whose life you are trying to make that tiny bit more bearable, turns around and offers you the very thing you have been looking for. And so, for any other MoTs out there who might be faced with a similarly unexpected and overwhelming loss of their partner, we offer you her latest go to blog – Widow’s Don’t Wear Black.

The blog is written by Nicola Campbell who became a widow at 36 on February 25th, 2012. She describes her blog as her “place to vent my frustrations at the jobsworths who don’t get it, wallow when I need to and discover a new future because the unthinkable did happen and my husband died suddenly at 38 leaving me and our two little babies under the age of two behind”.

Her writing is funny and sad and angry and clever and so very very honest that it makes your heart break.

I know that our MoT will want me to point out the article on Widow’s Tourettes which she tells us is just “so true” and we know makes her giggle just a little bit for its’ honesty. We also want to include this piece on Invaluable advice for friends of a widow/widower – it is a bloody good guide for any other MoTs out there that might be stumbling along trying to support a friend in need and need to get their feet out of their mouths.

Much love to you all.

Win a Babu Merino Bundler Sleep Sak

by mumsontop on June 10, 2013 in A Mum Did This, Mum Genius-ness

We are all aware of the fantastic qualities of merino wool, from being a renewable resource to its capabilities to wick moisture away from the skin and regulate temperature.

So with that in mind, Babu have created a line of merino clothing in simple, yet stylish fashion.

Bundle your baby up for a good night’s sleep in these cute merino wool sleep saks with an elasticated bottom. Great for night time changes and parents on the move.

To be in to win -

‘like’ Babu on facebook
Leave a comment below explaining how you like to stay cosy during these colder months

(Please note to be eligible to win you must ‘like’ Mums on Top on facebook or be a member of the Mums on Top Community)

Entries close Monday the 17th of June at 5pm.

This competition is now closed. Thank you to everybody who entered.

A Mum Did This: Ali

by mumsontop on June 10, 2013 in A Mum Did This

Describe your business in a sentence. Timeless baby products With a strong emphasis on organic cotton and merino.

How did it all begin? It came out of a need for sheets for my son Jack and went from there. I did not realise at the time just where that thought would take me.

What’s the best thing you’ve learned in the last couple of weeks? Silence is golden.

What did you want to be when you grew up? A truck driver strangely enough to impress my uncle, then a nurse which I became and loved.

What’s your best skill outside of work? Baking, I love to bake! Outside of home, running production which I do for Babu and a few other companies.

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday? Go to the market and get loads of veges, make a big soup and bake something yummy with my kids. Continue reading →

Mum Cool: Disney on Ice

by mumsontop on June 8, 2013 in Mum Cool, Smile

3 June 2013 Lucy and Holly at Disney on Ice We were lucky enough to have a family pass that we gave away to the Disney on Ice show. Here’s what Holly (3) and Lucy (5) had to report back to us, along with a couple of snaps from the big day out.

Disney on Ice was fantastic! We started the morning with Holly asking if we’d all get skates to wear (now that would have been fun, maybe a bit scary) but we decided to stick with a tiara and ‘jewels’ instead.

We entered the area and were surrounded by princesses and heroes. The kids were in awe of the costumes and the size of the stage, and said the best part was the dragon – it blew real fire (you can’t argue with that!).

The star of the show was Cinderella – the fireworks coming out the top of her beautiful carriage were amazing.

The big trip back to Dargaville was very quiet as the kids had seen so much, and been so excited that they slept the whole way home! Thanks Mums on Top, it was an awesome trip and we were very grateful for the tickets.

Lucy and Holly.

3 June 2013 Lucy Princess

Mum Reflections: Ronald McDonald House

by mumsontop on June 7, 2013 in Reflect, Words for Mums

To support Ronald McDonald House National Appeal Day we thought it would be a good idea to highlight the fabulous work this charitable trust undertakes.

New Zealand’s Ronald McDonald Houses support over 3000 families each year from all over New Zealand.

Here is how their home away from home makes a difference to families from our communities.

The Anderson Family, from Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay:

Lochlan (Lochie) Anderson , was born at just 28 weeks on 8th August 2007 in Wellington Hospital, weighing a tiny 690gms. At just 22 days old he contracted viral meningitis which caused a brain bleed, and consequently in 2008 was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. In February 2009 the little family started their six week block rehabilitation courses at Auckland’s Conductive Education, to get Lochie walking. Continue reading →

A Mum Did This: Zoobean Children’s Books

by mumsontop on June 6, 2013 in A Mum Did This, Reflect

Zoobean, makes it easier to find remarkable books for kids. Books on Zoobean are cyrated and recommended by a team of parents and catalogued with tags and filters that really matter to the families that read them.

Zoobean was born out of frustration as described by Jordan (Zoobean Chief Mum)

“At the time, we could not easily find books that told stories about new experiences and featured a brother and sister and a multiracial family. In stores, books were organized by genre, author, or very broad themes that weren’t really relevant for us,” said Jordan, our Chief Mom. “We also searched many popular shopping websites, but the information was overwhelming and impersonal. In the end, we were frustrated and empty-handed. The same frustration might have resulted looking for books about bullying and teasing, the death of a pet, or finding e-books featuring Latino characters. Parents and educators rely on remarkable books to help connect children to their worlds and we decided to create Zoobean to address a need that benefits families and helps children imagine and achieve anything.”

We love their values and the way they articulate them:

● Love: We know firsthand that a family’s love is boundless. It inspires mothers, fathers, and relatives alike to want the best for their children, other families’ children, and their communities.

● Inclusion: We believe parents and loved ones who can easily choose from a diverse set of stories will be better equipped to help their children express their full selves while feeling a sense of belonging to a larger community.

● Remarkability: We’re still not sure if we’ve made up a word with this one, but we’re cetain we know what we mean when we say it. At Zoobean, we commit to offering the best information and resources available. We want to equip parents and loved ones like you with great books for your children, so they can thrive—to the most remarkable levels imaginable!

We love that every month, they donate to a featured charity focused on youth literacy.

And we love that when you select at random ‘Love’ from one of their many categories you get four books – ‘Ish’, ‘Regards to the Man in the Moon’, ‘Zoom’ and ‘The Three Ninja Pigs’.

Real Live Mum: Tracy

by mumsontop on June 6, 2013 in Love, Real Live Mums

What makes you a Mum? I never thought I’d be a mum, I was always a workaholic and loved my job and life. Then I met and married Dean with within a year, had my first baby at 37, so it’s been a steep learning curve for me. Being a mum is a 24/7 job, so you end up being the boss, the teacher, the student, the caretaker, the discipliner and the nurse – all rolled into one. It’s not like what I thought it would be, but I wouldn’t change being Mum to my two boys for the world.

Describe where you are right now. Literally, sitting in our study typing while my baby sleeps. But if you mean in my life, I’ve just launched my first ever online business – called ‘Squoodles’. I found with my 3yo now at kindy in the afternoons, and my baby sleeping in the afternoon, I’d like to do something for ME as I finally had a few hours free time each day. We haven’t conquered the world as yet, and it makes for a busy life, but it’s fun!

Describe the last dream you remember having. A bit of a weird one last week. I was in bed, lights off, and drifting off to sleep when my cat jumped up, padded around making a nest, as he does, and then after licking my nose, settled down, all cuddled up next to me and went to sleep. When I woke, my arm was still wrapped around an empty space with the imprint in the duvet. Not so much a weird dream I guess, except my cat of 18 years died in February, so make of it what you wish. Continue reading →

Mum Genius-ness: Hopscotch – Coding for kids

by mumsontop on June 5, 2013 in Mum Genius-ness, Smile

We live in a digital culture – one where the things our kids will learn at school may or may not be applicable in their working life. We are increasingly reliant on a host of digital accessories that go everywhere with us – phones, iPads, computers – even the recent introduction of the ‘wave your credit card at a little machine and walk away visa’.

When things weren’t so digital a key part of kid life was finding out how things work – taking apart things and investigating how to get all the bits back together. There are many toasters, a number of radios and the odd TV that will never be quite the same again – in a digital world that is increasingly based on the cloud it isn’t so easy for kids to get this experience. As Tinybop Inc put it:

Looking under the hood at how a page is built or a programme works is not easy any more. So it’s important to ask how today’s kids will develop the skills they need for a digital world. How do you code, if there are no digital playgrounds? I believe part of the answer is reintroducing the idea of programming languages built for kids—languages that produce real, executable code.

Hopscotch have the beginning of a solution. An app that teaches the skill of coding to young (very young) children in a highly visual format that is easy to pick up and understand. Part of their passion is getting more girls into coding and helping girls understand that this is a profession that is not just for boys. In their own words “the reason that we need more girls coding: totally different tech products get built when women are responsible for designing (rather than just using) technology”.

Download the beta version now with future developments are set to include