Three Little Birds meets 2 Little Birds

I have been living in Geelong for 8 years now and it sure has changed since our arrival. I would like to think I am part of that change (as if) but think its just been a long time coming.

I love watching funky new cafes and shops open and now there is one more to add to the mix.

May I introduce 2 Little Birds Shop and Cafe (2 birds with the same stone...lol) located at 46 Rosyln Rd, Belmont.  The ladies behind it are Mother and Daughter team Mary and Tanya and they opened their doors to the world last Saturday.

It is a white frontage with the most divine blue door to welcome you inside to a treasure trove of original goodies for young and old. Some really lovely home ware pieces especially some light fixtures that I now have my eye on.

I also fell for a beautiful vest pictured here, sadly I cant wear them as they double my already ample size.

Out the back is a good sized cafe that has a simple menu and some great coffee (I hear) and tea (I tried).
They do plan to add a kiddie friendly corner for all the Mums out there.

So go check them out, have a shop, a cuppa and let them know Piccadilly sent you.

iPhones the key to Appy life

I had a column in Saturday 18th May GT lift out from the Geelong Advertiser, so for those who missed it, here it is.

 I was reading last week that comedian DJ Hughsey decided to go on a smart phone detox after losing his kids for a few minutes in a park when he was distracted. He switched to a regular old call making phone instead. He found a few benefits; he called his wife instead of playing on the phone when he had spare time and felt he was more involved in work meetings.

 It got me thinking about the whole topic and I can tell you categorically that I have no desire to ever go on a smart phone detox. I never want to go back to my LBI (life before iphone). I love my iphone I really do. My son is doing a catastrophic chart at school this week where they have a scale of 1 to 10 of how bad something really is. For example a bird pooping on your head is 1 and getting eaten by a shark is 10. He was looking fro a number 4 or 5 and I suggested losing your iphone/ipod. He looked at me oddly and said that was clearly a number 1. Are you kidding???? I would much rather a bird poop on my head then lose my phone. I would rather go without chocolate or wine than lose that thing.

 LBI was difficult and laborious and at times boring. How many times were you stuck at a doctors office with magazines dating back to when the Spice Girls were hot and cigarettes were not bad for your health? Waiting at a tram stop for a tram that was meant to come 20 minutes ago and I have no reading material and terrified to duck across the road for a drink and a magazine in fear of the tram whizzing by. LAI (life after iphone) means whilst waiting at the doctors I can plan that nights dinner, do my banking, catch up on emails, catch up on the daily news and check the weather report for tomorrow. Stuck waiting for public transport, no sweat, just look up on one of my zillion apps and see when the next tram will be arriving and pop on over and get that magazine to save my sanity.

My kids think I am pretty smart in LAI, they ask me a tricky question and I can google it then and there and give them an answer. “I am glad you asked, the Titanic sunk in 1912” No waiting till we get home to check the Encyclopedia Britannica or a visit to the Library. What about assignments? Need a picture of the pyramids? Google that thing and print it off remotely to the printer whilst stirring the dinner pot.

We were recently on a family trip in the United States. I had a phone for the duration with full data coverage, which these days really should be the norm whilst travelling. I realized we just don’t operate on the same level we did in LBI. At Los Angeles Airport our terminal was under construction, it was Easter Sunday and there were no staff around and we had no idea where to go for our shuttle. I googled the company, looked up the information and we were on our way. Each night when we were looking for a place to eat, we accessed YELP and found out what was close by and could read the reviews. It was spring break at Disneyland and the queues were crazy, I downloaded an app with Wait Times for rides. They would vary all day long so this was amazing; we could change plans and head for the ride with the shortest line. Total Gold when time is precious.

I may be sharing a little too much information but after 3 children including a set of twins, making it through an entire movie without a visit to the ladies room is near impossible. Can you imagine my excitement when I found an app called RunPee, you find your movie press start when the movie begins and it will alert you to when is the best time to go pee (most boring part)…..I am serious and you can thank me later…..it will then give you a synopsis of what you missed. Genius and that app alone is worth the purchase of an iphone.

 So my question to you is, Where do you sit on the Catastrophe Chart when it comes to Life Without your device?

The best gadget I have bought in a LONG time

On my recent trip to the United States I did very little shopping (boo hoo) due to time restraints and a family who did not care to shop at the same level that I do. I did however manage to get one totally amazing, awesome item that has alleviated much stress in my life and made me a very happy girl.

Drum roll........

Its the Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation Pro. I hear you asking "what on earth is that?". Well its this relatively small device that charges my iPhone, iPad, kindle and any other compatible device AND it is as strong as charging from  a power outlet.

For those who know me, you will also know that my iPhone and I have a very close relationship and I love it dearly BUT it does not reciprocate with battery life which can be very frustrating for a girl on the go.

I was going to go for a case that clipped on to my phone and at a flick of a switch I can get another 60% life but when I went into the Apple store and saw all these other options and ended up going for this little baby. It also means I still get to sport my designer pretty phone covers.

All day at Disneyland and losing battery at 6pm with 6 hours to go, no worries just plug it in, in my handbag and disaster averted. I also attended a conference in San Diego and while everyone was freaking out over flat phones and iPads and diving for power outlets I was sweet with my little Mophie. In fact I could have rented it out for 15 minute power shots. One person said quite confidently to me that they would never really use something like that and 5 hours later on a boat cruise on the bay she sheepishly came up and asked (begged) for a shot to keep her going.

All you iPhone users know exactly what I am talking about right?

This baby is so strong it can power my iPhone up to 4 times on one charge. Great for a weekend away. Bushwalking, camping (glamping in my case) etc

This is by no way sponsored by Mophie, they have no idea who I am, I just love this product and think it well worth the $100 I spent.


You will not regret it.

P.S I have now found an Australian supplier, click on add below to be directed to their site. They however only have this model in black but I am sure colour wont fuss most people.

This site also has great covers for grown ups and kids too. It really is a great place to get you powered up.

How to use a Disney FAST PASS

The Disney FAST PASS is FREE with your ticket price, so there's no reason not to take advantage of it. 

What you need to know about the DISNEY FAST PASS

• Keep your entry ticket as you can not get a FAST PASS without it. I wondered why people had lanyards around their neck but soon discovered it was to keep them close, dry and safe.
• All persons in your party must be in the park in order to use the FAST PASS so you can't send one person ahead of time. Although one person can go with ALL their party's tickets in hand if everyone has been scanned into the park.
• Once popular rides are full they will stop issuing a FAST PASS. Radiator Springs is currently the hottest ride and was sold out by 11am everyday.
• The FAST PASS is good for one entry only for the one hour window that is specified on the ticket.

If you look where the blue arrow is pointing it says the Stand By time is 180 minutes, yep you read right 180 long and painful minutes.To avoid that kind of madness you can go to the FAST PASS line and it will tell you what time you can can go back to ride as seen in the picture below.

MUCH MUCH better, this means you can go and do some other rides or have a meal whilst waiting. Your FAST PASS will tell you a time at the bottom of the ticket for when you can get another FAST PASS ticket, generally 2 hours after you got the current one but I found that to differ.

At the entrance of each FAST PASS attraction, there is a set of machines that are similar to ATM machines. You  insert your theme park ticket into the FAST PASS machines, and it will spit out your FAST PASS.  On the FAST PASS is a "return time" window. When the time on the FAST PASS arrives, simply go back to the ride and enter the  line through the special FAST PASS entrance (which is generally very well signed. 

So, when we went I saw the ridiculously long line for the Radiator Springs FAST PASS and thought we should ignore all previous advice (yes really!!!) and go straight to the ride where we waited for 2 hours. Seeing all the FAST PASS people speed by you is like a form of torture. We sang, we danced, we had minor tantrums but we did make it.

The next day I got to the FAST PASS line at 7.45 am, it opened at 8.00am and I had my hot little tickets in my hand by 8.15 am. In the meantime Shane and the kids went and stood in line for another long ride, I walked straight up and joined them. We returned at our designated time and waited 10 minutes to get on. So a total of 45 minutes and another ride taken in that time. Much better.

Not all rides have FAST PASS, it is indicated on the Park Map.

Just to be confusing even though you get a FAST PASS for Radiator Springs it does not count as a FAST PASS so you do not have to wait till a specified time to get another FAST PASS for an alternate ride. Hope this makes sense.

It is an art, a game but well worth learning.

Hope this helps.

If you have a mobile phone with a local sim card which I HIGHLY recommend then get this fantastic wait times app which we found to be pretty spot on. I would check the wait times when we came off a ride and see what had a smaller wait. It really does change and fluctuate all day with exception to Radiator Springs and Space Mountain.

Do your research before leaving, if you get your phone unlocked there are some great deals for sim cards that give unlimited data, text and local phone calls. In this day and age that we live in having all the information you need at your finger tips is priceless.

Paper maps are a thing of the past, when we were driving I would just use google maps. I could search places to eat close by and get directions. Calling cabs when we needed them.
Wondering what a particular building was and being able to google it. When you don't have it you don't realise how much you use it.

Hope that helps in explaining what a FAST PASS is all about

How does California Adventure compare to Disneyland?

They are both amazing.

I must admit I felt like I was cheating on Disneyland when I walked towards the California Adventure gates (directly opposite Disney). CA opened in 2001 on what was the old car park for the past 40 years. Unfortunately it did not do nearly as well as had been projected and they kept adding new rides and sections, increasing popularity but it was when Cars Land opening last year that has really seen numbers soar. 

Cars land is absolutely amazing, it is exactly like you are on a film set which is hard to get your head around when it is an animated film. The Disney attention to detail is mind blowing. It is something you need to experience both during the day and then again lit up at night. Mater and Lightning McQueen drive down the street during the day and I feel a little embarrassed at how excited I got seeing them.

Radiator Springs Racers is the hottest ride now and rightly so, it is so much fun. The lines are painfully long, we waited 2 hours the first time. In a separate blog post I will talk all about the FAST PASS and how you must master it. 

Visit Paradise Pier, which is a cool boardwalk area where you can see Disney and Pixar characters. One of our favourite rides was California Screamin, a huge roller coaster that soars high over the boardwalk, not for the fainthearted. Don't miss the game that's a ride on Toy Story Mania which was super fun shooting at targets from your moving vehicle.  Shane and the girls liked Goofys Fly School but I felt like we were going to tip off the tracks. Way scarier than California Screamin for me. After the sun sets, Paradise Bay springs to life with music, light and magic at the World of Colour nighttime water spectacular. This is an amazing show but you really need to get their early to get a good spot. We did not get a FAST PASS for better seating and the kids really could not see from where we were standing which was a shame.  It did look wayyy cool.

Another great, great ride was Soarin Over California which is a tour of California from above. It was so real, they even pumped scents through so when you flew over an orange grove you would smell oranges. So cool. It was located in Condor Flats where we also ate a few great meals.

The next unanimous fave was the Grizzly River area for an outdoor adventure where you can take a thrilling, spinning plunge ride on Grizzly River Run where we got REALLY REALLY wet. Luckily it was a warm day. The kids LOVED Redwood Creek Challenge Trail  where they could explore wilderness paths, go across rope bridges, climb over rocks and zip down suspended slides. Very fun!!!

If you have little kids make sure you visit A Bugs Land where you become an honorary bug. It is super cute with some great little rides but the star of the area is the It's tough to be a Bug show. Cute, funny and educational.

Jonah and I were totally desperate to do the Tower of Terror but it was another one with huge lines and it was only the two of us that wanted to do it. We finally managed to get a FAST PASS and it was scary good. The setting is an old Hollywood Hotel where lightning has struck the building and made the elevator do sudden drops and crazy movements with the doors opening onto crazy Twilight Zone scenes. Well worth experiencing.

We didn't get to do everything and I wont mention everything else we did do but California Adventure is fabulous. It is a different feel to Disneyland. Not better, not worse just a different energy that we really enjoyed.

I did mention in a previous post but will do so again. As we were travelling to Los Angeles and San Diego we got a Southern California CityPASS which was incredible value, it included a 3 days hopper pass for Disneyland and California Adventure, a day at Seaworld and Universal Studios. We did not have to line up for tickets, just straight to the turnstiles. GREAT value!!!!

Is Disneyland really the happiest place on Earth?

.....why yes it is!!!!

My family and I have just come back from an amazing 2 week Californian adventure. I was lucky enough to win 2 tickets, accommodation in L.A and a private tour of Fox studios through the fabulous
SBS. My children are aged 7 and 9 and I decided that this was absolutely the most perfect time for them to experience the wonder.

We flew with Virgin Australia who were great, most definitely recommend them to anyone travelling that way. No complaints at all. Getting through LAX airport with 3 tired children was trying, the immigration procedure took 2 hours, barely any staff and a long and tedious system.

Took the Blue Shuttle Bus to Anaheim and checked into our hotel The Ramada Maingate which was perfect for what we needed. We got a large room that easily fit the 5 of us and baggage with room to spare. There was a pool, spa and a continental breakfast each morning. There was a laundry room which was awesome after a week, the room had a decent sized fridge and a coffee/tea maker. Makes life so much easier. If I had have had more time to plan I would love to have stayed in a Disney Resort Hotel. Next time.

The BEST part was the location, we were basically across the road from the main gate to the two resorts. No shuttles, buses, cabs to think about. If you wanted to duck back for a rest you could but we chose not to.

As we were travelling to Los Angeles and San Diego we got a Southern California CityPASS which was incredible value, it included a 3 days hopper pass for Disneyland and California Adventure, a day at Seaworld and Universal Studios. We did not have to line up for tickets, just straight to the turnstiles. GREAT value!!!!

Sooooooo excited

Unfortunately we planned our holiday during America's Spring Break so it was crazy, insanely busy, we did 3 very full days and still did not get to do everything. The best piece of advice I can give is MASTER the FAST PASS. We were told about it but didn't truly understand how it worked or how important it is in order to keep your sanity.There really isn't a lot of information on it which is frustrating. I will do a separate blog post on how it all works.

The moment we walked through the gates we were captivated, Shane and the kids were running towards the castle, I love Walt Disney for having a dream and making it happen. The look of joy on Lola's face says it all.

This truly is the happiest place on Earth, its where dreams are made for people young and old. Shane and I were just as captivated as the kids and it wasn't even our first visit. Seeing it through your children's eyes is pretty special.

It is also the cleanest place on Earth and has the friendliest staff (cast) you will ever come across. Did you know that Disney California has 25,000 staff? Can you imagine that HR department and the uniform department?

No matter what you need the cast are there for you.

The parade is an absolute must no matter what your age is. We went towards the end of the parade route and found a place to plonk ourselves very easily. It is pretty cool when a famous Princess catches your eye and blows you a kiss.

The rides, how can we not mention the rides. They are amazing in every way even the older original ones. The attention to detail can be seen everywhere. Jonah was keen to try roller coasters whilst Shane and the girls not so keen so guess who got to relive their childhood? ME!!!

The top faves at Disneyland were as follows:

1. Space Mountain
2. Star Tours
3. Temple of Doom
4. The Matterhorn
5. The Haunted House


If you have daughters than you MUST take them to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, my girls are 7 years old and this was a highlight for them. Who would not want to be a princess for the day? I called ahead of time and booked from Australia as it can be super busy. We went the Coach package and bought a dress separately. The girls get to choose from 3 different looks, mine went the classic princess which has the longest lasting hair do if you want to get your moneys worth. In 40 minutes they are transformed, they are spun around and the curtains are pulled back so they can see themselves in the mirror and the staff all clap. I may have shed a tear.

Try and get it done as early in the day as possible as the cast will address them as Princess or Your Highness all day long and bow to them. It really is a truly magical day for any young girl. Wish there was a Mummy version. Mine were lucky enough to get singled out by one of the Guest Services Staff and taken to privately meet some Princesses and Jonah scored 2 FAST PASSES for his patience in all things girlie.

My next blog post will be on California Adventure.

P.S I would also recommend that you see some of the main movies before you go, really cranky that we didn't do that. Some of the ones to consider are Pirates of the Caribbean, Snow White, Cars, Toy Story, A Bugs Life, The Little Mermaid.

Calling all Foodies

I have stumbled upon this wonderful publication and blog called Princess Misia that is a must stop for passionate foodies. The woman behind it is Marta originally from Poland (my parents homeland) and now lives in Belgium. She sure is handy in the kitchen and behind the camera.


You absolutely, positively must check out this insanely divine food magazine called Luscious. It is a European publication so it is a Spring issue and some of the ingredients are not in season here but I am certain  you will want to bookmark this one and come back to it.

The images make you you want to dive right in.

This one had me at Cinnamon...

How crazy cute is this image, I want this hot apple drink now.

I am crazy about salads and this one looks relish.

Bon Appétit

Piccadilly Market THIS Sunday March 24th

5 more sleeps till Piccadilly Easter Market

In The Spotlight - Eternal Ingredients and a Giveaway

I would like to introduce you to a fabulous new business on the scene that will be showcasing their product on March 24th. As an avid food lover, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this business idea.

 Tell us a little about yourself?

I love cooking! That’s why I created Eternal Ingredients, to help people preserve their family recipes in a beautiful, personalised cookbook of their own. 

I grew up in the UK in a new town called Milton Keynes, which was known for trees, roundabouts and concrete cows. For my 21^st birthday, my parents bought me a round world, which is where I met my husband John.

I started life as a PA at KPMG Peat Marwick, which gave me a good grounding for running my own business. I came from a creative family, my parents were both architects, my sister a landscape gardener and my brother a photographer. I always had the creative gene but never did anything about it until I emigrated to Australia and had the opportunity to retrain as a graphic designer, eventually branching out to set up my own design studio 5 years ago.

My grandma taught me how to cook, using hand-written recipes stored in tin boxes. The recipes were passed throughout the family over the years, but sadly, some were lost.

I have lived in Melbourne for over 18 years with my husband John and our 5 year old miniature poodle Bob, who is truly more spoilt than any dog should be.

How did you come up with your business name?

Brainstorming was done between John, Vicki and I and a number of names were shortlisted. Eternal Ingredients was chosen because we felt that it summed up everything about our site and what it would do for the preservation of family recipes. The name will also allow us to expand into other areas in the future.

Tell us how your product/range came about?

I was chatting to someone at a function and they mentioned they had to send a recipe off to the bridal party as someone was putting together a cookbook for the happy couple.

My mind got ticking and I did some research, realised there were plenty of other sites out there, but none offered the sharing of recipes in the way I wanted to. I then talked at length to my husband and bestie and Eternal Ingredients was borne!!!

Sounds easy, but this was over 4 years ago and we have been researching, planning and building ever since.

How long have you been in business for?

Eternal Ingredients has been operating for 6 months

What inspires you?

Beautiful design, whether it be buildings, printed material , furniture or websites. I am always looking for inspiration from things I come across every day.
My family and friends are also of great inspiration to me, whether it be from battles they have been through, achievements they have made or things they have worked on personally or professionally.

My husband is amazing with what he can put his hand to and generally whatever need he is able to go out to his garage and come up with a tool or the finished item and I get a lot of inspiration from his ability to do this.

When you are not busy cooking and running a business what do you love doing?

Walking along the beach with Bob, catching up with my wonderful friends, travelling overseas to exotic locations with my husband, silver smithing, eating out. I find after a long week that I love to spend a Saturday afternoon in the kitchen cooking something lovely that we can share for dinner with a bottle of bubbles.

What is something cool that most people wouldn’t know about you?

I do silver smithing as a hobby and choose not to sell my work so that it remains a hobby and a passion. A few friends have select pieces and generally there will only ever be two of the same thing made. (what a great hobby)

If money was no object what would be your dream destination?

Brazil, and we are going this year! I have been told there is a budget but I refuse to listen to what it is while I dream about where we will stay and where we will visit! ( I went last year and LOVED Rio)

Last meal on earth?

Mum’s cheese straws

Dad’s lemon lamb

Grandma’s Duke of Cambridge Tart

Auntie Queenies Fudge

What 5 ingredients could you not live without?

This is a tough question as there are so many things you need in the kitchen, but I think for me the basics are the essential ingredients that I tend to always manage to get by with if I have on hand:

Flour

Eggs

Butter

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

All time favorite Chef?

Jamie Oliver

What is your favorite website(s) right now?

Eternal Ingredients

The Design Files

Thank you so much Rachel and we look forward to seeing you at the next market.

If you would like to one a personalised cookbook valued at $77 please head on over to the Facebook page to enter.