Anyway, I am such a huge fan of Penny’s events and her brilliant blog (Sshh Mummy’s on the phone) that I have contributed a My Playhouse Adventures table cubby house to her “Tip Tuesday” post this week. All you need to do is leave a comment on her blog with a rainy day activity suggestion and you’re in the draw to win! Clickety click here to enter.

Can’t wait for Penny’s next event. This time it’s a free on-line webinar on Working Wardrobes featuring the massively popular Nikki Parkinson from Styling You. Nikki is all about stylish, practical, yet affordable fashion for mums. I’m still trying to get my hands on the leopard print heels from Big W that she blogged about recently, but they never seem to have my size. But then, that is the power of this gorgeous bloggy lady. Last week she blogged about a dress from Seed and crashed their online store as women stampeded to buy one! Anyway, would love to see you there – next Tuesday night at 8.30pm. Register here. Feel free to wear your trackies. I will be!

Meanwhile, get your entry in and hopefully I will be sending your new table cubby house out to you very soon.

And here is a lovely note from a lovely mummy -

“The cubby has been a fantastic present for my little girl. There have been a zillion tea parties in there. Was great to get one made specially for our table. Here’s a photo, and must find another of the kids using it outside.” Seana, Frenchs Forest, Feb 2012

Please note that we do still make custom-made cubbies, but my manufacturer has pushed the price sky-high. So, to avoid these fees we are introducing a new larger rectangle size to fit tables 200-220cm long and 90-105cm wide. These will be in stock in March. Enter your details here and I will email you as soon as they arrive.

Any questions just email me here or on kirralee [at] myplayhouseadventures.com.

Over the past few months I have been assisting Karen Gunton of build a little biz to create a stage where we can shine a light on these brilliant little biz builders for all to see. This stage is a website called Shine.

This past week it has been my turn to be featured, so if you’ve been tossing a biz idea around, read my story here. I would love if it helps you.

Do you dream of having your own little biz?

With my kids now 4 and 2 I’m finding that they can truly make me happy at times if I relax enough to let them. And I don’t mean the big picture “Children bring meaning to my life” or “I was so proud when little Abraham took his first step”. I mean during a stressed out busy busy evening when you’ve raced around finishing work, picked up the kids from childcare, been to get petrol and to the ATM, posted a letter on the way home and tried to have a meaningful conversation with your child about their day (or tried to comfort a tired grizzly child while driving). You’ve continued to race around at home to get something edible on the table and are trying to coax some carrots into your child’s mouth.

“Eye-pah! Eye-pah!”

What the?

Once you translate, you work out that Master 2 has just spotted Swiper the Fox (from Dora the Explorer for the uninitiated) sneaking up to the table and is about to steal his dinner!

HA!

Now, I don’t often go along with this one (now that it has happened again and again and again), especially during dinner, but the first time Hamish did this it made me laugh. Yes, LAUGH. Now perhaps I have a low comedy threshold, but in my house where I think I spend far too much time stressed and grumpy, laughter is GOLD and I will take it where I find it. It is the ultimate relaxant (well it’s healthier than wine) and there’s even rumours that Happy Mummy = Happy Daddy if you know what I mean .

So the next time something crazy comes out of your child’s mouth, don’t tell him to be quiet and eat his dinner. Say “Swiper, no swiping! Swiper, no swiping!”. They will think you’re hilarious and you might get a laugh too.

Awww, how snuggly and romantic does this look? Love love love it!

Image credit: Apartment Diet