Things I can't live with out #8

Welcome to 'Things I can't live without #8'. Obviously this is is a rather drastic statement about a bunch of products that I like and are in no way things that my child or I really need to exist. All we actually need is food air and gin (that one is just me). The rest is fancy dressing that makes our lives more bearable... Do with this what you will. 

My last blog (which was the first one in about 18 months) was about body image and was written in Perth hungover when I was away from my baby for 5 days and decided that, due to said hangover and extreme weather conditions I needed to get over myself and start wearing shorts instead of covering up like a Greek widow no matter how humid the day. It was pretty much the most open I have even been on paper let alone on the intranet for all to see and it was even published on the wonderful site www.mamamia.com so I had the rare pleasure of sifting through hundreds of comments that strangers made about my most personal thoughts (and typos - I KNOW IT IS THALIDOMIDE - IT WAS A MISTAKE! DONT BE SUCH A MEANIE!). I am going to go back to talking about shiny things that I can buy with money that tell you little to nothing about my frame of mind of inner monologue for a bit. Hope that is ok... x

The only bib you need ever own.

Annabel Karmel red plastic bib

I know that all those cotton ones look cute but honestly, who needs to wash bolognese sauce out vintage lace embroidery? This one is plastic, red, rolls up, wipes off, gets chucked in the dishwasher and catches all the dropped food (second course!). When I found this one I gave all the others away. We have used only this one for OVER a year. Easy.

iBert child's bike seat.

This one attaches to most bikes on the front (better for balance, child's vision), looks funky, is compact and gets massive compliments (this is what my life has come to - counting compliments on my child's bike seat... honestly). I bought it off Amazon in the US. Still cheaper even with postage than buying in Australia (as un-PC as that is - I am frugal first and foremost)

Ikea 'Antilop' high chair.

The cheapest, simplest high chair around. Can't really be beaten to be honest.

Trunki.

We love the Trunki. From age 2 it has been a great travelling companion fitting all the toys, books, spare clothes, nappies (no I haven't potty trained yet, we've been busy. Shut-up). Plus as a bonus you get to swing your baby around airports, scaring the other travellers as your child screams 'Yee haaaa!!!'.

But....

I have just seen this Scoot ride-on suitcase and I'm having major fomo and might need to buy it...

Anyone want to buy a second hand Trunki?!

Saltwater sandals.

We bought a red pair for bubs a year ago (this one above with the thicker sole) and it has seen her through 3 summers (granted that had been over a 12 month span, this incessant travel has its benefits). They are totes retro cool and I even have a pair do we can be all matchy matchy as we ride our bike to get a babycino (I am physically gagging at my own cliched middle class, suburban self to save you the trouble)

AppleTV.

You probably get that we travel a lot, yeah? Well I love my AppleTV at home, I basically watch most of my tv through it via series downloads (Game of Thrones anyone?) and not only do we download kids tv (See next item for our faves) but when bored you can flick through countless movie previews (or in our case the previews for Happy Feet 2, Puss in Boots over, and over and over again...) or look up clips on YouTube (Little Mermaid for her, Sexy Sax Man for me).

But the best thing is that I can take this small unit (about 15cm squared), remote and the HDMI cable Wherever you travel and plug it into the TV in the hotel or flat or friends house. Too easy.

TV shows we have come to love (sort of... The first 40 times they are watched maybe).

Yo Gabba Gabba 

Guests like Mos Def, Solange Knowles, The Killers & Jack Black plus good tunes and funky designs keep this a favourite in our house. I even made this cake for bday #2 

(one of my proudest moments ever but I'll let you in on a secret - I can't bake so the cake underneath this awesomeness is half unrisen and stuck together with Nutella and half bought from Coles so rest easy...)

Justine Clarke 

We love her, the songs, the musicians playing on the songs (there are some top class Aussie Jazz boys playing on her records) and the videos are a treat. It is baby disco often in our house anytime 'Do the hullabaloo' comes on.

Charlie & Lola.

I love this show. The design is quirky and smart, the music great, the stories helpful and Charlie us like the best older brother ever in existence. I love Lola too, she is inquisitive, precocious and a whole lot of other charming big words. I love it. 

(postscript - I am a little obsessed with Caitlan Moran at the moment - there may even be a blog in the future about her book 'How to be a woman' and in the introduction to her new book she professes a deep hatred of Lola... I feel a bit sad to be honest but I stand by my love for them both...)