We're not chicken!

One of the fun things about being a blogger is being invited to launches and information events where you get to catch up with other bloggers and learn about products and services.

And so it was that the kids and I were invited to a family barbecue courtesy of B-Brand and Lenard's. 

The kids were with their Dad that weekend, so I took a grown-up friend instead.

The event was held at a beautiful Brisbane park, right on the river, where even I couldn't get lost, thanks to the Lenard's rooster, who kindly showed us exactly where to go. (Not the first time I've been told where to go ...)

Isn't he handsome?

The gorgeous Lenard's girls cooked up a storm 

 Goodie bags

 Some of the yummies for lunch...

 Mmm ... chicken 

 A cooking demonstration ...

 A babble of bloggers ...

 Instant noodles ... A new product at Lenard's and a quick alternative to takeaway

 Looks just like the photo ... yum

 A quick salad for a weekday dinner

 Everyone wanted a plate like this...

The most delicious kebabs ...

Contents of the goodie bags ...

Disclosure: Maid In Australia was a guest at the barbecue and received the above goodie bag and a gift voucher for the purposes of this review. This is not a paid review. 

Look kids, no hands! (Okay, maybe one...okay both then!)

Why should kids have all the fun?
I've often thought that, as they've whizzed past, wind in their hair, sun in their faces, as they've explored the great outdoors on their scooters.
My childhood was never that much fun.
So I was thrilled when I had the chance to reveal a Crisp Big Wheel Scooter.
It's a scooter that's built for adults!
With big 200 mm wheels - important for Mums with dodgy balance (or maybe that's just me) - it's built for speed. And style.
There's also an extra-wide, grippy, low deck that's more like a skateboard than a scooter.
But it's not daggy. Not at all. (More on that later...)
I was a bit nervous about taking on a scooter for my first time in years.
But with the kids' encouragement I took it, gingerly at first.
"You just put push off with your foot and hang on Mum," shouted Chase.
"Don't go too fast," warned Harmonie.
And I did it!
Slowly, and a bit shaky at first, then faster.
And soon I was zooming up and down the street with ease.
It felt awesome to feel that rush of freedom again, and I really did experience glimpses of what it was like to be a kid again. Okay, not as agile and fit as a kid, but the potential was there.
And the kids thought it was hilarious and wonderful at the same time that I could join them on their scooters, and we could ride together as a family.
And I'm amazed at what awesome exercise it \is. No wonder the anklebiters are so fit!
The scooter may be larger than usual, but it folds easily,so it fits into the back of the car. So it's easy to take to the park with the kids' scooters.
I can't tell you how much fun it is to go to the park together and scooter around with them. I tell you, sometimes I find myself lining up with them when the ice-cream truck turns up!
The kids love the scooter too, rating it way better than either of their own. In fact, they usually take it in turns to ride it to school.
See, that's because it's not daggy.
"Cool ride," says the lollypop lady.
"That's really wide," says Miss 10's friends.
"That's good," says Mr 12's friends.
"Can I get one in blue?" says Mr 12.
"I wonder if it comes in pink," says Miss 10.
"Can I have a turn?" says MY friends.
We love that there is room for a decent-sized drink bottle as well.
It arrived in a large box but was easy to put together - Mr 12 managed it with ease, and was pushing me gently out into the street to try it out before I knew it.
With scooters so popular and so much fun for kids I'd certainly recommend a Crisp Big Wheel Scooter for Mum or Dad - or any big kids really.
I can now keep up with my kids in the park, and we can go for scooter rides together after school or on the weekends, which is way more fun than me trailing them in the distance and trying to keep up.
Who knows? I'm probably improving my fitness as well.
Certainly, my jeans are looser since I got my scooter a few weeks ago.
And I haven't fallen off once!

 Is it for me?

Hands off! This one has my name on it ... 

 And I'm off!

 Harmonie's turn ...

 The latest school run accessory ...

Even Kit Kat can't help but take notice!

Disclosure: Crisp Big Wheel Scooters gifted Maid In Australia a scooter to review for the purpose of this post.

We will remember them ...

Today, more than ever, we need to honour all those who defend our country: all those, whether fallen, fighting or free.

ON the eve of ANZAC DAY, this Wednesday evening, Queensland Symphony Orchestra together with RSL Queensland, will stage a pretty special concert – a powerful tribute which will sound out across the city, reminding everyone that Thursday is a day to remember.

The Queensland Symphony Orchestra and RSL (Queensland Branch) are presenting an  ANZAC EVE CONCERT featuring conductor Benjamin Northey, Anne Wood (soprano) and Kang Wang (tenor) at  6.30pm, Wednesday 24 April at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre This is a FREE EVENT: To register your ticket please visit qso.com.au/rsl-anzac-concert

The Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) and RSL (Queensland Branch) unite again to present the free community ANZAC Eve Concert at 6.30pm on Wednesday 24 April in the Great Hall of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. This concert acts as a tribute to honour the veterans and serving men and women, remembering those lost in past and present wars.  This year the concert will be directed by highly renowned Australian conductor, Benjamin Northey. Mr Northey explains what ANZAC Day means to him:  “It represents the sacrifices made by our ancestors to help give us the freedom we have today,” he says. “It also embodies our character; tough, loyal and we look after our mates. The spirit of ANZAC is at the core of our national identity. The concert is a wonderful way to celebrate what that means to us all."   RSL (Queensland Branch) CEO Chris McHugh says the concert was a fitting tribute to those who have fought for our freedom. “It’s a very appropriate way to spend the evening before one of our most important national days,” Mr McHugh says. “RSL (Queensland Branch) is very proud to support this opportunity for the community to come together and honour Australian service men and women while enjoying a wonderful night of fine entertainment." The Orchestra will also perform with musical theatre sensation Anne Wood, tenor soloist Kang Wang, the Queensland Choir directed by Kevin Power and the Brisbane Concert Choir directed by Debra Shearer-Dirie. Music featured includes Australian classics and a range of orchestral pieces and performances by Queensland Police Pipes and Drums and the Australian Army Band Brisbane. Join the QSO and RSL (Queensland Branch) for this special community concert and support those who have risked their lives for Australia.

The ANZAC Eve Concert will feature music from; TRAD. Advanced Australia Fair WALTON Spitfire Prelude MCDONALD Arr. BUTTON With Honour We Serve TRAD. Abide With Me RITCHIE Gallipoli Voices BARBER Adagio for Strings BRODSKY Be My Love RODGERS Victory at Sea TRAD. Eternal Father Strong to Save RODGERS Carousel, You’ll Never Walk Alone SIBELIUS Evening Hymn and Last Post Note: I know this post is a little different to my normal kind of post, but I think Anzac Day is worth it, don't you? More than ever ...

Not quite Hollywood

It was the only one of the Gold Coast's theme parks I'd not been to with the kids before, and with our trusty VIP passes burning holes in my wallet, what better time than the school holidays to try out Movie World?
The kids had been with their Dad a few years before, and were keen to see what had changed since then. I was keen to see what had developed since I'd last attended a movie screening when Chase was a babe in arms.
Maybe we were there on a bad day, but it turned out not a lot.
All the old fave rides were there - Wild West Falls Adventure Ride, Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster,  and the attractions of the Kids WB! Kids Fun Zone. The kids zone was a bit young for my two, but great for littler ones.
And the more adventurous rides were fabulous. Just a bit too adult for Mr 12 and Miss 10. Your kids of that age may be different. Teens and young adults were having a ball on rides like Justice League 3D, the Green Lantern Coaster and the Batwing Spaceshot.
My son would have gone on, but he didn't want to risk: 'Being spewed on by a random stranger'.
It would be okay if he were spewed on me apparently, because that would be his mother's spew, and that was ruled acceptable. (I'm honoured...)
But I couldn't go on the ride with him, because that would mean leaving Miss 10 alone.
Which was unthinkable.
Such is the reality of single parenting at theme parks.
And so we compromised once again, which meant Mr 12 missed out.
(It's always good to try to attend with other families if you can, or coax a spare adult into coming with you. Not always possible. Or affordable, if you're the one springing for the extra ticket.)
I was disconcerted by the trend for $20 photos with the characters. Yes, you could still get photos for free luckily, but the popular characters like Bugs Bunny and the Scooby Doo characters seemed scarcer than usual. Call my cynical, but I wondered if they were busier with their new $20 schedule? Less popular characters (to us) like a powdery Edward Scissorhands and sweet Alice In Wonderland ('she looks older than I remember her' remarked an unimpressed Mr 12), were still available though.
The stunt show was good fun, and Ice Age 4 was worth a look too.
Food and drink prices were, as usual, high. $6 each for dagwood dogs, $10 for pita bread wraps, and you're not supposed to bring any of your own food or drink in except for water. (People with allergies are exempt from this rule).
The kids loved the Ekka-style concession stands, which cost extra. My son's interest was piqued at a concession stand's holder's squid hat, which the hat holder first told him he could 'probably win' later. So we stayed on and played a few more games until until I enquired again. This time, the attendant checked with his supervisor and said there wasn't in fact, enough stock of the hat for it to be won.
We left after that.
Luckily, our passes were valid for Wet 'n' Wild, which was just down the road.
We've been there several times and I keep togs and towels in the car for just such an occasion. (What Queensland mother doesn't?)
And so the day was not a total loss, even though it pissed down raining and we all got soaked.
And no squid hats were won by anyone.

 

Excited for a big day out!





 

Look, it's Batman!

 

 

Go-karts!

 

 

Time for a break!

 

 

Wet 'n' Wild - that's more like it!

 

 

Slippery fun!

 

 

 



A dreamy giveaway

One of the best things about school holidays is sleeping in!
The mornings are getting a little cooler now, and it's been lovely to snuggle under the covers a bit longer and put off getting out of bed for as long as possible.
No rushed breakfasts, no lunches to make and no dashing out the door to school - bliss.
We've enjoyed a few visits with friends and family too and it's been great not to have to enforce bedtime now the kids are getting older.
Another dreamy benefit of school holidays is yummy food. Harmonie enjoyed a morning cooking with a favourite auntie, while Chase and I caught up on some shopping the other day - he's grown out of everything again! Aqua easter egg cupcakes and pink lamingtons were the result - delicious.
We've also been enjoying some of Cloud 9's scrumptious frozen yoghurts. Lighter in taste and fat than ice-cream, they are deliciously yummy without the guilt factor.
We used the Strawberry Dreams flavour (strawberry chunks and biscuit swirled through strawberry yoghurt) to make yummy iced-yoghurt sandwiches. (Sorry, no photo, they were eaten too quickly).
Then Chase whipped up some lemon merinque smash with the Limoncello frozen yoghurt (limoncello and lemon curd swirled through frozen yoghurt). It was nice and easy, and delicious too. And we decided at the last minute that it was too pretty to smash up, so we served it like this:

Lemon merinque pie with limoncello frozen yoghurt, pre-smashing, with lemon zest on top

Sharing the school holiday joy, the nice people at Cloud 9 have given MIA 5 x $20 Coles vouchers to giveaway, so that readers can try the fabulous frozen yoghurts themselves.

To win one of the five $20 vouchers, simply leave a comment below saying which flavour you would like to try. You'll get an extra entry if you leave a comment on my Facebook page.

Entries close on Monday April 15, at 9 am AEST.

The competition has closed. The winners are: Char, Mary Preston, Trish Drumboys, Jody Jamieson and Elise Ellabban. Please send me your snail mail addys so I can send your gift cards. 

Disclosure: Maid In Australia was gifted one $20 Coles gift voucher to try the Cloud 9 frozen yoghurt at home.

Happy Easter

Easter is a bittersweet time of year for me.

As a time of hope and new beginnings, in my own life it has been a time of wonderful beginnings and terrible endings.

One wonderful Easter Sunday, I got married. Surrounded by my closest friends and family, I said my vows, and left the very next day on my honeymoon to Thailand before moving onto London for a new job in magazines. Life was wonderful.

A few years later, I found out that marriage was over during Easter ... ironic, much? Or maybe just really awful timing.

Moving on a few years, my first child was conceived during Easter - another wonderful time in my life when I thought everything was as it should be again.

My Easters have been up and down since then. There have been gorgeous ones with my babies where they have discovered the magic of chocolate. Chase's first Easter was the first time he tasted chocolate and he knew exactly what to do with it!

And there was one a few years ago when I fell ill and had to take myself to the ER alone - the joys of being a single Mum.

This year, the kids woke early to find the Easter Bunny had been. There was chocolate for breakfast and an Easter egg hunt in our back garden.

I offered to take them out but they've been content to have a quiet day relaxing at home with our pets.

Easter isn't over yet, so I'm hoping this year's festivities will be one of the special ones.

How do you celebrate Easter?

Missing out

So last week, I was supposed to attend the social media event for parents in Australia: the Digital Parents Conference.

Held in Sydney over two days and nights, I had even been chosen to present a speech: My Blog, My Story.

I had accepted, in better times, when I'd been feeling happier and well.

But come DPCON13 time, times had changed. I was in the grip of a crippling depression and my finances were abysmal.

Not only could I not justify the expense, I was not physically or emotionally capable of making the trip to Sydney on my own. Let alone getting up to speak in a conference room full of my peers. As wonderful and welcoming an audience as it would have been.

Depression has turned me into a recluse in recent times. A shaky shadow of the confident globetrotter I used to be.

Oh, I'm able to do the things I need to do to be my childrens' mother. I go to the shops for food, I walk them to school, and participate in events that are important to them. I join in the cheers at the swimming carnival, I help out at school disco. I cook them nutritious and (mostly) tasty meals.

But I do nothing for me.

There are no girlie outings with friends. I can't remember the last time I had a haircut - it was mid-2012 I believe. An invitation to dinner? I make an excuse. Coffee with a friend? Suddenly I have to be somewhere else. Yeah, somewhere else like home. Alone. Alone with my thoughts and my tears. Just what a depressed person needs.

It's even hard to do things I need to do like check in with my doctor, look for work, or take a walk - it's so important to get some kind of exercise to raise the endorphins.

Sometimes just calling a friend to say I need help is all too hard.

So getting myself to Sydney to be at a conference became a jumble of times and logistics and fears that my mind couldn't cope with.

Then there was the sheer fear, irrational I know, of being away from my kids for anything other than an essential reason.

And the what-ifs. What if I got one of my debilitating migraines and had to be admitted to hospital? I'd miss my flight back. What if I had a panic attack and had an, erm, accident? What if I was hit with fatigue and slept through the whole thing?

But I couldn't afford to go anyway, so the depression had a win. And that made me even more depressed!

I tried to use the kid-free time wisely though. (The children were with their Dad).

I saw my doctor again. I cleaned house (gasp!). I visited with family, several times, and it was nice. I finished off paperwork that had been sitting on my bedside table for months.

I reached out to a couple of people for support, and I found it. (Bless them).

And although reading the tweets and Facebook statuses of my peeps who were lucky enough to go to DPCON13 were bittersweet, I realised that staying home wasn't the end of the world.

Getting my health right, and living within my means, was much more important. And it's still very much a work in progress, but that's okay.

Readers, what have you done for you lately?