Gold Coast Grapevine May 2010 by Gold Coast Grapevine

Issue 4 May 2010

True Stories l Calendar of Events l Recipes Online Shopping

www.gcgrapevine.com.au

..... COOL HATS FOR COOL KIDS All enquiries log onto our website or contact us on 0416 385 044

BABY BASe

www.babybaseink.com.au

The funkiest

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Authentic Aussie kids hats. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: They may only come in small sizes … but BABY BASE INK hats “Now I have eight hats in total.” have got big personality.

The BABY BASE INK range for boys and girls has a distinct urban

These hats are a must have for the fashion conscious toddler street wear look including two fedora style hats, and six flat peak caps. In just six months Baby Base has started to make waves who wants to stand out in the crowd. A little funky unique around Australia and the world. and hip hop street! But her son Base remains her biggest fan.

Gold Coast mother of two, Porowini Lucchiari is the creator of this funky line of headwear especially designed for the “Base doesn’t leave home without a BABY BASE hat on he is totally trendy tot. obsessed with them,” she said.

“ I just couldn’t find anything stylish and small enough to fit his head, so I decided to make my own.” And her two year old son, Base, was the inspiration behind BABY BASE INK proves style doesn’t have to be expensive… The the label. entire range is affordably priced between $24.95 and $29.95. To view the entire range visit www.babybaseink.com.au

Porowini looked everywhere to find the perfect hat for her son… But after searching the globe unsuccessfully … it Media Enquiries: Porowini Lucchiari was time to take matters into her own hands.

0416 385 044 info@babybaseink.com.au

“I just couldn’t find anything stylish and small enough to fit www.babybaseink.com.au his head, so I decided to make my own. I really wanted to do (Sample products and high resolution images available upon request.) the flat peak style,” she said.

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Greetings from the Publisher... HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!! Welcome to our new digital, virtual and interactive magazine! As many of you know, April was a big month of announcements with competition winners, collaborations & and a sneak peep on what the GCG is developing, which we all know, the iPhone App! Oh and how can I forget, we went VIRTUAL!! But first The Gold Coast Grapevine would like to congratulate Brenda Williams who one the cool Baby Base Ink hat. Definitely one of my favourite items out there right now for kids. Too Cool!! THANK YOU Baby Base Ink for sponsoring such an awesome prize! There’s no ‘new’ competition at this to time to announcement, but keep checking our website, there will be a new comp announced soon! This new digital edition of The Gold Coast Grapevine is completely interactive. You will see hyperlinks through out the magazine that you can click on and be taken direct to that website. All ads also have the hyperlink feature so if something happens to catch your eye, you can go straight to the site, look up information and even make a purchase! The new digital edition now has a House of Vintner chapter dedicated to all the wine buffs! This edition holds the first chapter and the first wine of the month! Soon this chapter will also feature events & great wine products. The new edition will also be distributed monthly and each edition will be a little different from each other. With all of these new additions and changes, The Gold Coast Grapevine also announced the development of the iPhone App. This is very exciting news and will be one of the most useful apps out there! This app will have everything Gold Coast, where to eat, what’s on, places to stay, even the surf report! And it doesn’t stop there, once the GCG iPhone App is completed it will not only be for locals and tourists here on a holiday, but will also feature major cities across Australia, offering the same information as

it does for the Gold Coast. But I can’t get too far ahead of myself. Let’s get it completed and out first! Right now it’s in the very beginning stages and are aiming for an August launch with everything Gold Coast, so stay tuned!! I must close this greeting with the MANY THANKS to all of my contributors and advertisers and I must acknowledge the support of my husband, children, family and dearest friends, whom I owe for supporting me and The Gold Coast Grapevine. As many of you know, my mother recently passed and the support that I have received from family, friends, clients, colleagues & readers has been overwhelming. This has been a very difficult time for me and being the Mother’s issue, I would like to take this opportunity to Thank all who have been here with me through this incredibly hard time. This will be my first Mother’s Day without a mum. It’s surreal & disturbing and I miss her tremendously. I also want to thank my sister, Marta, who took care of my mum, looked after her and held her hand to her last breath. Another incredible soul that I am blessed to have in my life. So far 2010 has proven to be a year of challenges & change for me..good & bad. But mostly the challenge of not being able to pick up the phone to hear my mother’s voice will be the challenge that will forever change me.

Happy reading & see you June! Warmest Wishes, Marilyn Adam Publisher/Founder The Gold Coast Grapevine t: GCGrapevine fb: Marilyn Adam GCGrapevine

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What’s Inside... Greetings p.04...from the publisher

Shopping & Reviews p.24...Online Shopping p.25...Cheeky Chuckles Review

Feature Article p.09...Featured Mum

What’s on!!

p.15...Local Markets 19...May Calendar

Editorials p.02...Baby Base Ink 06...SPC 07...Baby Beings 17...Connect2mums

The Menu p.26...Forzen Bananas 27...Did you know? 27...Healthy Tips

The House of Vintner p.29...Cheers 30...The History of Wine 31...Wine of the Month

Hot Topics

p.21...New Mum on Mother’s Day p.23...The Confusion Wold of Food Additives

Published by The Gold Coast Grapevine Qld 4218 m:0430 304 082 f:(07)5677 0626 e: marilyn@gcgrapevine.com.au w: www.gcgrapevine.com.au ABN: 47 279 002 263 All content in The Gold Coast Grapevine has been written in good faith based on verbal or written material provided by contributors to produce this publication. No responsibility or liability will be taken and The Gold Coast Grapevine will be further released of any liability or damages as a result of the content or advertising contained in this publication. This publication is produced soley to

convey information and general interest and any opinion expressed through out this publication may not necessarily be those of the publisher. All material in The Gold Coast Grapevine may be subject to copyright laws, therefore no part of this publication may be reproduced without the written approval of the publisher. Contributors & resources: Raising Children Network, Gold Coast City Council, Teigan Borus, and all vendors and advertisers. *The Gold Coast Grapevine is a proud sponsor of Project18

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The BEST Gymnastics & Circus Club on the Gold Coast!!! Kindy Gym

Circus Fun

School Holiday Programs

Gymnastics Sports Acrobatics

Cheerleading

Tumbling

Birthday Parties

Wall Climbing

10% off

Performance Group

joining fee for

Classes for ALL ages from 18 months to Adults www.SuperPerformanceCentre.com.au

Grapevine readers!!!

Join NOW!!!

(07) 5532 8429 9/2 Middleton St Ashmore, QLD

If you’re looking for a fun and exciting way to stay fit and healthy then the Super Performance Centre is the place for you! The centre provides everything from Kinder Gym, competitive or recreational Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics, Sports Acrobatics, Circus Aerials, Wall Climbing and so much more! But what’s even better is that there are programs to suit everyone from 18 months old to an Adult of any skill level. Situated on the Gold Coast, SPC opened its doors in 2006 and has since established a well-deserved reputation for its amazing facilities, extensive range of equipment and experienced, international coaches. Say goodbye to boring exercise regimes and hello to the Super Performance Centre. Operating six days a week, there is bound to be something perfect for you that can fit into your busy schedule, but you need to be quick! SPC provides such an amazing experience and we are constantly opening up new classes, however they are very popular and spaces are limited. Did you know you can also have your birthday at the Super Performance Centre? Our exciting rock climbing wall, dazzling circus aerials and expert coaches allow children to experience the fun and excitement in a safe and friendly environment, making for the most memorable and fantastic birthday parties. www.gcgrapevine.com.au

Baby Beings

‘Always Handmade Always Stylish’ When you hear handmade, many thoughts arise. You may remember a special outfit or toy that your Grandma made for you, or perhaps a special gift made by a friend, what ever the case these items are always treasured and bring about feelings of love and happiness. BabyBeings is a brand new online baby boutique that specialises in providing you with an alternative to the mainstream baby clothing you find in shop, after shop, after shop! Here you will always find items for your special baby beings that are wonderfully unique, stunningly stylish, daringly different, and always handmade! That’s right everything here is HANDMADE! All of our heirloom quality products are not mass produced, factory made garments by big companies, but are instead made by small businesses who operate using fair trade certification and many are just wonderfully creative people who simply make these products because they love making them! They include; mums, dads, daughters, friends, Nana’s and even Pops! All of our products have a story, many are one of a kind, and you can be assured that all of these products are of the highest quality and every stitch has been placed with much love, light and happiness just for you and your babybeing!

Unique clothing, shoes, products & accessories for Bubba and Mumma! Handmade with love, happiness & a touch of magic!

www.babybeings.com.au Our vast and exciting collection includes; couture clothing, shoes, accessories, organic bedding and blankets, nappy bags, sling carriers, nursing covers, organic breast pads, natural toys, and much much more! We also offer Dunstan Baby Language classes and the Dunstan Baby Language DVD. On our Mumma’s resource page you will find monthly quotes, recipes, and helpful tips for all things parenting So come and take a look we are sure you will love what you see! Whether you are searching for a standout and practical baby shower gift or something extra special for your little one you will find it here! BabyBeings is Gold Coast based and can often be found at various markets around the coast! To keep updated you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Introducing our featured mu

The not-so ordinary mum who’s achieved more than extra-o

* Mother to 9 * Founder of Project 18 * Humanitarian * Conservationist * Writer * Photographer *

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um....Cate Bolt

ordinary things

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Many people have heard of Cate Bolt; The humanitarian, conservationist, founder of Project 18, the lady who gave up the good life to live a better life, but more importantly the mother of 9 recently homeless. I don’t know many who would be brave enough to speak of it as frank as she does. And I don’t know many who would want to or who would have gotten the public scrutiny that she received. I first heard of Cate Bolt on Twitter, @CatBolt. I first started reading her blog - An Ordinary Life about 9 months ago and I was amazed to read that she had 9 children, 8 boys, 1 girl; ranging from the ages of 18 to 3 years old and then I couldn’t imagine having your own business, financial freedom and giving it all away to start an orphanage in another country. From the beginning, I was captivated. Who does this in our time? Who devotes themselves whole hearted to a project as big as starting an orphanage in another country while being homeless themselves? About 2 years after one of Cate’s first ‘light bulb’ moments she finally got the courage and strength to let her business go. A business known as the largest wedding retailer in Australia that she owned, managed and that consumed up to 18 hours of her day. She had no idea of what she was going to do or what was going to happen. As with any big decision in your life, the fear of the unknown. But that didn’t last long, within a couple of months of not knowing, the idea of the orphanage came to her almost as an epiphany when she

first ‘text’ the idea to her husband, Rick Bolt. From there it was all steam ahead and Project18 was born. “Conservation through Education” In the midst of all this creating, helping and giving, Cate, her husband, and 6 of her 9 children were evicted from their home! With no where to go and not enough time to find a home suited for a large family, and with no help from the previous real estate company giving them a bad score, they were left to do the unthinkable and set up camp at a caravan park. During which time she wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and Premiere Anna Bligh, had an interview with a talk radio and declared a national appeal for homeless and created Cate’s Cause. Let’s just say she didn’t go quietly! She was heard and then she was judged and criticized in away she didn’t expect and at a time when sheer survival took on a whole new meaning and the concept of humanity had been taken away. She received death threats and feared for her family’s safety while they remained homeless for 6 weeks. Yet, with all the judgment she received and comments made about her and her large family, She still believed in her country and is very much proud to be an Australian regardless of how she was treated by her so called fellow Australians, She was still thankful. Project18 is now in the first stages of development and Cate will be in Indonesia next month to find a location, ideally Sumatra. Where every night 1.8 million

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children in Indonesia sleep homeless and out of the 500,000 children already living in Indonesian orphanages, 90% of these children still have a living parent. Who’s parent’s, out of sheer desperation, had previously left them on the streets with the hopes that someone more fortunate would pick them up and offer a better life, keeping them off the streets, provide food, shelter, and an education. Exactly what Project18 will offer. Out of this came the “Education Outreach” program; specifically designed for small village communities to build new schools and assist existing schools, and out of this, came the “Planet You” Youth Program for Australia. A series of videos targeted at kids ages 6 to 14 covering relevant topics of today’s youth, what their concerns are , empowering them with facts and giving them the tools and education to make a difference. What a blessing! Where does this strength come from? Cate credits everything to her children and the key to everything in her life is her children. I asked her about her kids and their feelings and unlike most parents, she raises her children with an open door policy. They know about their parent’s finances, they are entrusted to make their own decisions and they knew that they were going to be homeless and they also knew it wasn’t going to be permanent.

age is a personal parental goal that I believe she’s already achieved. Her compassion for her children and humanity is apparent as well as her educating her children and getting them involved. Ash and Ailish, her only daughter, are very much apart of Planet You and teaching other children the importance of humanity, conservation and compassion for the world and the people of this world. Being a parent to 9 children is a huge job to say the least, yet when speaking with her, you get the feeling that it isn’t such a hard job to her. She gets them involved and manages to pass this passion and education onto her children. I asked Cate to choose one word that would describe each of her children. And in order, she answered; Loki - Imaginative AJ - Independent Matthew - Clown Ash - Inspired Bailey - Brilliant Julian - Gentle Kelsey - Irratic Ailish - Princess Charlie - Beautiful I would say that there is a little bit of Cate in each of them.

“It took her 9 to get it right” Raising independent, confident and well balanced children during a time when so many things can go wrong and cause so much damwww.gcgrapevine.com.au

Cont on next page

I spoke with Cate for over 2 hours and we spoke of everything from accomplishments to setbacks. I sat quietly for along time after our conversation, questioning myself and what am I doing for my part? I was compelled by her passion and her compassion for the world and humanity. She carefully chooses words that are endearing, meaningful and warm while speaking and she reminded me how lucky we are to have the life we have, where we live and what our responsibilities are as an adult sharing this world and as a parent. Her dedication and commitment to her family and all of her selfless projects are empowering and inspiring and she has made me realize that we are all here, in this together, on this planet and that we have the power to make it the best that we can and that we can be the generation that educates our children on what makes a difference and how we can make that difference. Just prior to our interview, she had taken part of The Worlds Greatest shave for the Leukemia foundation and raised almost $3,000 dollars by shaving her head and was recently invited to be a guest speaker at TedX Darling Harbour where she touched on topics of Domestic Violence and being homeless. And not surprisingly, she was fantastic. She’s a leader that people want to follow and want to listen to. And I have no doubt, that she will make a difference in this world that if not acknowledged in this generation, will be in the next and thereafter. Her compassion, sincerity, and warm mothering nature definitely stands

out when you speak with Cate, but it’s her strength to keep going, to push ahead, regardless rich or poor, you realize that you too have a place in this world and that you too can make a difference. Her children hold her heart and are her light. Her family is her foundation, her strength and her purpose; and she is forever endeavoured to the universe for her children and what they mean and bring to her life. She was made to be a mother and soon the world will get the benefit of being mothered by her. The children of Indonesia that will soon land in her orphanage will be so blessed. She will reach more hearts, be a mother to more children and I have no doubt believing that we are the lucky ones to have her in our world. I asked Cate what she wanted to be remembered for and without hesitation, she answered “To be remembered for taking every opportunity to help other people and doing everything I could to help other people.” I don’t know, I have a feeling she will be remembered for much more... I wanted to close this article with something spectacular, thanking Cate for taking the time to speak with me. For being so honest and true. I wanted to end in a big thank you for being The Gold Coast Grapevine’s “featured” mum and make her feel as special as I possibly could with having this title and then came the realization that no title coming from me or any other person, and other then coming from her own children, would make her feel anymore special of a mum.

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So that is exactly what I did, and with the help of Cate’s husband I am able to close this article with a Happy Mother’s Day wish to Cate from her 9 beautiful children. Happy Mother’s Day Cate! Loki “Happy Mother’s Day, you’ll always be an inspiration and role model who I’m proud to look up to.” AJ “Thanks for being there when I need you. I love you. Happy Mother’s Day!” Matthew “Thanks for always caring for me. Happy Mother’s Day, have a great day!” Ash “Happy Mother’s Day. Hope you have a very good day. Thanks for being such a great mum, “Keep saving the world Brutha” I love you.” Bailey “Happy Mother’s day mum, I love you so much, thank you for being the greatest mum ever. I hope you have the greatest day ever!” Julian “Dear Mum, you are beautiful, I love you beautiful rose. Happy Mother’s day, Love Julian” Kelsey “Dear Mum, I love you, you’re awesome and Happy Mother’s Day, Love kelsey” Ailish “Dear Mum, I love you you’re so sweet, cool and awesome. Happy Mother’s Day, Love from Ailish” Charlie “I love you mummy, so does batman. Happy Mummies day” GCG www.gcgrapevine.com.au

FRErE EVEN

“Sma t e r S c h o o Date: Time:

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Thursday 13 May 2010 6:30pm Registration 7:00pm Start - 8:45pm Finish Venue: Multipurpose Centre Merrimac State Primary School Corner of Boowaggan Road & Gooding Drive, Merrimac

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An initiative of 1000 Mums Making a Difference and Allergy Friendly Foods to provide education, awareness and solutions for school canteens and create “Smarter Schools, Thriving Kids!”

 DO YOU REALLY KNOW what is in the foods provided in school canteens?  Let’s reduce problematic ARTIFICIAL ADDITIVES  Let’s create better behaved kids who can CONCENTRATE and LEARN!  A healthy canteen can be a PROFITABLE canteen! Exhibiting Sponsors:

“YOU ARE WELCOME TO PHOTOCOPY THIS FLYER TO PASS ON TO OTHER PARENTS – YOU MUST BE THERE TO HEAR THIS INFORMATION!”

To find out more visit our website at www.1000mumsmakingadifference.com.au www.gcgrapevine.com.au

Local Gold Coast Markets Banora Point Markets Club Banora, Leisure Drive

1st & 3rd Sunday of every month www.farmersmarketsaustralia.com.au

_____________ What’s On

Broadbeach Art and Craft Market

Kurrawa Park 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month (07) 5533 8202 www.artandcraft.com.au

Bundall Farmers Market

Gold Coast Turf Club Every Sunday 0404 787 865 www.farmersmarketsaustralia.com.au

Burleigh Arts and Craft Market

Justins Park, The Esplanade, Burleigh Heads Last Sunday of every month (07) 5533 8202 www.artandcraft.com.au

Carrara Market

Cnr Gooding & Manchester Drives, Carrara Every Saturday & Sunday (07) 5579 9388 www.carraramarkets.com.au

1st, 3rd & 5th Saturday of every month (07) 3103 2325

Mudgeeraba Farmers Market

Mudgeeraba Showgrounds Cnr Mudgeeraba & Worongary Roads, Mudgeeraba 2nd & 4th Saturday of every month (07) 5525 3525 or 0401 369 869

Nerang Fresh Produce & Craft Market Lavelle Street, Nerang Every Sunday 0417 728 844

Palm Beach Currumbin Farmers Market

Queen Elizabeth Park 2nd Sunday of every month (07) 5533 8202 www.artandcraft.com.au

Palm Beach Currumbin State High School 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month 0404 787 865 www.farmersmarketsaustralia.com.au

Assisi College Carpark Last Saturday of every month 0424 189 344

The Esplanade Parklands, Paradise Point 4th Sunday of every month 0417 636 662 or 0407 636 822

Rear of Currumbin Sanctuary Car Park Tomewin Street, Currumbin 1st & 3rd Saturday of every month 0417 759 777

The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise Every Wednesday & Friday night (07) 5584 3700 www.surfersparadise.com

Coolangatta Art and Craft Market

Coomera Market

Paradise Point Art and Craft Market

Currumbin Sanctuary Farmers Market

Surfers Paradise Beachfront Market

Miami Organic Farmers Market

Miami State High School 2137-2205 Gold Coast Highway, Miami Every Sunday (07) 3358 6309 or 1300 668 603 www.gcorganicmarket.com

Marina Mirage Farmers Market Marina Mirage Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

Tamborine Mountain

Local Producers Markets Tamborine Mountain Showgrounds Every Sunday (07) 5545 2617

The Village Markets (Burleigh) Burleigh Heads State School 1st Sunday of every month (07) 5679 0375 www.thevillagemarketsgc.com.au

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proudly presents the

Mumpreneurs conference & AusMumpreneur Awards 30 July - 1 August 2010 Brisbane, Australia

image by studiopromise.com

A 2 day conference specifically designed to help Mums in business reach their full potential and provide them with the skills they need to take their business to the next level. The conference includes 2 days of workshops with leading business experts in marketing, branding, business planning, finance, goal setting, work-life balance and much more! The weekend also includes inspirational guest speakers, a business showcase, an exclusive speed networking event as well as the glamourous AusMumpreneur Awards recognising Australia’s leading Mumpreneurs. For more information or to nominate your business visit: www.connect2mums.com.au

www.connect2mums.com.au www.gcgrapevine.com.au

The rise of the Mumpreneur What is a Mumpreneur? – well it’s a mum who wants to be able to fulfill her potential as an entrepreneur as well and it seems the trend is on the rise with this industry being the fastest growing in Australia in 2010! ‘Mumpreneurs’ typically are successful, confident and innovative entrepreneurs who choose to be self-employed in their own business all while caring for their children and families at the same time. They need to be innovative, professional, have great time management skills and flexibility but many women are finding success in this new industry, and two of these are Queensland’s own Peace Mitchell and Katy Garner. Peace and Katy launched their own book in June 2009 ‘What I wish I knew before I became a mother’, a collection of heart warming and uplifting tips and advice that they wrote and illustrated together based on the lessons learnt as new mothers for the first time. By November they had become editors of the online networking community ‘Connect2mums’, Australia’s leading online community for Mumpreneurs with more than 2000 members Australia wide. Connect2mums provides a safe and supportive environment for women in online businesses to get together and share information, network and gain support. The site provides members with relevant information and opportunities to interact and socialise with other mums across Australia and New Zealand. Friday night live chats, newsletters, product reviews, real-life events, competitions and articles are just some of the ways women get connected at Connect2mums. These are professional women who value their time with their children but are also highly ambitious and want to feel successful as businesswomen. They believe that when it comes to success in career and in family you can have it all. The

Connect2mums Mumpreneurs Conference and AusMumpreneur Awards are another way that Peace and Katy support, celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of Australian women in business. These exciting events provide the opportunity for women from all over Australia to come together to gain new skills, connect with fellow Mumpreneurs, be inspired by leading business experts and celebrate the success of the best and brightest in the industry. The AusMumpreneur Awards The AusMumpreneur Awards celebrate and recognize those achieving success in the industry, in areas such as business, product development, services and innovation in both online and bricks and mortar businesses from around Australia. Business owners can either nominate themselves or someone they know for each of the categories. A panel of judges will select finalists in each of the 12 categories and an online interview will decide on the overall award winners. The AusMumpreneur Awards take place at a glamourous Awards dinner at Rydges, Southbank, Brisbane on Saturday 31 July. These awards are the only events of their kind in Australia and will be officially opened by Hon Karen Struthers MP the Minister for Women. The 2010 Mumpreneurs Conference The Mumpreneurs Conference is a weekend of motivation, inspiration, networking and celebration. Held on the same weekend as the AusMumpreneur Awards it includes 2 full days of workshops with leading business experts to provide Mums in business the skills to move their business to the next level and keep them motivated, balanced and organized. For more information please visit www.connect2mums.com.au or email connect2mums@gmail.com

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What's on... May 1 Beach & Surfing Experience** Main Beach - 8 to 9:30am Lifeguard Tower40 coach@surfcoach.com.au Battle of the Coral Sea Commemoration** Cavill Memorial Park, Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise 10 to 11am May 2 Juggle Jam Circus Fun** Nerang - 10:30am to 12noon Bischof Park, 48 Nerang Street www.threeworlds.com.au May 3 Labour Day Holiday Playgroup Mermaid Waters Dunlop Court, Mermaid Waters 9:30 to 11:30am (07)5595 8615 $4.00 May 8 “Fargen Kofferton” Art Show** Griffith University Visual Arts Building 7:30pm The White Box Art Gallery featuring local G.C. Artist - Matt Gooley Science on Saturday - Exploring Science Nerang - 10am to 3pm, $6.00 Nerang Bicentennial Centre 833 Southport/Nerang Road susan.burchill@csiro.au May 8 & 9 The Wiggles Wiggly Circus The Gold Coast Convention Cntre Various times both days, Tickets required www.gccec.com.au May 9 Mother’s Day May 13 “Smarter Schools, Thriving Kids”** Merrimac State Primary School - 6:30pm

1000 Mums Making a Difference & Allergy Friendly Foods - Solutions for Schools www.1000mumsmakingadifference. com.au Careers Expo** The Gold Coast Convention Centre 9am-8pm www.gccec.aom.au May 15 Science on Saturday - Green Science Nerang - 10am to 3pm, $6.00 Nerang Bicentennial Centre 833 Southport/Nerang Road susan.burchill@csiro.au May 16 **Beach & Surfung Experience Miami - 8 to 9:30am Lifeguard Tower 22 coach@surfcoach.com.au **Juggle Jungle Ormeau - 10am to 1pm Jacobs Ridge Parklands www.threeworlds.com.au **RSPCA Million Paws Walk Miami - 8:30am registration 10:30am start Pizzey Park, Miami www.qld.millionpawswalk.com.au May 20 - 23 Sancturary Cove Int’l Boat Show Sanctuary Cove - 9am to 5pm daily www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au May 22 Science on Saturday - Cool Science Nerang - 10am to 3pm, $6.00 Nerang Bicentennial Centre 833 Southport/Nerang road susan.burchill@csiro.au Mountain Biking Pacific Pines - 9 to 11am , $5.00 info@ vertecadventure.com.au

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May Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

23/30

24/31

May 29 Science on Saturday - Solving Science Nerang - 10am to 3pm, $6.00 N Nerang Bicentennial Community Cntre 833 Southport/Nerang Road susan.burchill@csiro.au May 27 - 30 **Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival 9th Annual Blues Music festival throughout Broadbeach between Queensland Avenue/Broadbeach Mall/ Charles Avenue www.bluesonbroadbeach.com.au

May 8 @ 8pm

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A new mum and Mother’s Day.... by Sarah Christmas

Before I had a baby I must admit I felt that Mothers Day was just another commercialised day, pushed on us each year by card companies and florists. Each year I’d buy my mum a card and a bunch of over priced flowers with very little thought about what the day was supposed to mean. However, now I’m a mother I’ve found my thoughts on Mothers Day, along with my thoughts on pretty much everything else, have changed. As my little girl was only 4 months old on my first Mothers Day it passed in a bit of a blur of sleepless nights and seemingly endless breast feeds. However, this year she’s coming up for 16 months and I’m now finding I have more time to reflect on things, especially on how I have changed since becoming a mother. Like many others, before I had my baby I didn’t have a clue about what becoming a mother or raising a child actually meant. I was, however, full of opinions about the subject. Oh how I cringe when I think of some of the mortifying things that came out of my mouth whilst pregnant. I was very vocal with my opinions and started many a sentence with ‘I mean, how hard can it be to...’. I’m surprised no one punched me. How things have changed! Pre baby I enjoyed an interesting and varied career. I (probably) drank too much,

slept in when I felt like it and generally squandered my money on things I didn’t need. It was a self indulgent lifestyle and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Pre baby my week days were full of deadlines, brainstorming and office politics. Now my days are full of nappy changes, trips to the park and preparing an endless array of finger food, most of which ends up on the floor. But you know what, I never thought I’d say it, but I love this new life. I was never a ‘baby person’ but I truly love being a mum and think it has changed me in every way, all for the better. However, life with a newborn is not the rosy picture it’s painted to be. I found it incredibly hard work, an endless round of nappy changes, constant feeding and trying to get the little bundle of joy to actually sleep. Having a child changes your life in every way and initially it seemed like my life was no longer my own. I was suddenly subject to the whims and needs of an irrational wrinkled little person, who’s spoke a different language than me but still expected me to know instantly what she needed. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The realisation that there was no time off was a huge shift in perspective for me. Suddenly I wasn’t the most important person in my life.

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As Mothers Day approaches I’ve been thinking about how I have changed in the last year or so since becoming a mum. The most noticeable difference is that I am now much more flexible and far less judgemental. Pre baby I had very fixed ideas about contentious issues like breast feeding vs bottle feeding, control crying and discipline. Even when I first had my baby I would find myself making judgements about the choices other mum made. However now that I am, I hope, a little wiser I’ve stopped being so critical of others. I’ve found that being a mum is much easier if you stopped worrying about what you ‘should’ do and take a more flexible approach– after all each baby is a little individual, how could there ever be a ‘one size fits all’ solution? I’ve also realised that life is much easier if you take things a little less seriously. Pre baby a bad hair day would be a major crisis however when you’ve been averaging 4 hours of sleep for weeks, haven’t eaten all day and your baby has just been sick down your only clean t-shirt, I mean really, what else is there to do but laugh? Having a baby has definitely helped me regain my sense of humour. Sometimes it really does just come down to a choice between laughing and crying. The biggest change I have noticed in myself is that I now live much more in the moment. Instead of wishing the time away waiting for the weekend, or a holiday, or an event I’m looking forward to, I’ve learned to slow down and appreciate the moment much more. Its such a cliché, I know, and it’s definitely easier to say than do but

__________ Hot Topics

I definitely think it’s one of the keys to enjoying life with children. My baby is now an active toddler but it seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from hospital, secretly amazed that they had let us take her home when we clearly didn’t have a clue what we were doing. Time has flown by and I never thought I’d say it but I really do miss those things that seemed so hard at the time. All those snugly, middle of the night breast feeds when she’d look at me a little cross eyed and reach out to me with those tiny little fingers. One thing is for certain, time doesn’t stop marching on and if you don’t slow down and enjoy all those little moments then you will miss them. For me, becoming a mum has been a life changing experience. This year I’ll be making sure that I thank my mum for everything she’s done for me as I’ve now realised that it’s not just about celebrating a day, it’s about celebrating a lifetime of those little moments that we shared together. I’m looking forward to a long future of these moments between my daughter and I.

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The Confusing World of Food Additives by Jodie Davies

All those ‘numbers’ on ingredient labels can be very confusing and there are many, many artificial additives that we have to contend with these days. How do you know what’s what? Can you decipher what all of the numbers and codes mean? Most probably not. Let’s work through what these additives are, why they are used, what effects they may have and how to avoid them, starting with preservatives... What is a preservative? A preservative is an approved class name which reflects the functions performed by food additives. Basically, a preservative serves the function of prolonging the shelf life of foods. How can I identify what is a preservative? There are quite a number of food additives that are used to preserve foods. Some have no cause for concern, whilst others certainly do (these are listed in bold). Some food additives may also cause hyperactive reactions and I have listed those with a triple asterisk next to the additive name. I have listed the ‘number’ and the ‘name’ as either may be listed, more commonly just the number. You

may also find some of these additive numbers with the letter E in front of them and these should also be avoided. 200 Sorbic Acid *** 201 Sodium Sorbate 203 Calcium Sorbate 210 Benzoic Acid *** 211 Sodium Benzoate *** 212 Potassium Benzoate 213 Calcium Benzoate 216 Propylparaben 218 Methylparaben 220 Sulphur Dioxide *** 221 Sodium Sulphite 222 Sodium Bisulphite 223 Sodium Metabisulphite 224 Potassium Metabisulphite 225 Potassium Sulphite 228 Potassium Bisulphite 251 Sodium Nitrate *** 252 Potassium Nitrate *** 280 Propionic Acid 281 Sodium Propionate 282 Calcium Propionate *** 283 Potassium Propionate

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As you can see from this list, there are only two food additives used as preservatives that do not have any concern. All of the others do and may also be causing hyperactive reactions in our children. How do I avoid these food additives used as preservatives? One of the simplest things that we, as mums can do is choose a preservative-free bread for lunches. It is such a simple thing to do, yet can have a very positive impact. Artificial preservative 282 can cause young children to ‘head bang’. I know firsthand, as my son was doing this at the age of 18 months, repeatedly hurting himself and yet doing it again. I was at a loss to understand why he was doing it! I did two simple things on the advice of a friend in the health industry, which was to buy bread that was free of additive 282 and to supplement his diet with a particular Essential Fatty Acid she recommended that was mercury free (another tricky thing as mercury is not listed on the label!). Within three days of making these two simple changes, my little boy had stopped head banging and never did it again! I have continued to avoid 282 in breads and continued to supplement with EFA’s to this day for proper brain development, learning and concentration as the brain is made up of fatty acids. My little boy is now 6 years old is in Grade 1 and is reading books that would be suitable for a high performing Grade 2 level. Learn to read the labels! We know that this is a very time consuming experience and so 1000 Mums Making a Difference supports their proactive members with an additive free shopping list that is updated quarterly, taking the hard work out of reading labels! Jodie Davies Founder – 1000 Mums Making a Difference

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Product Review!!

______________ Shopping & Review

Every year I find a new product that I wonder, How did I live without it? This is one of those products! Cheeky Chuckles Bed Mats! Cheeky Chuckles BD’s Bed Mats for kids are easily removable waterproof mats that absorb those little accidents in the middle of the night. Made up of three different layers of absorbent fabric, this mat is all about making life a little easier! No more changing the bed in the middle of the night! And what I found to be so great about the product is that it enabled us to toilet train our son without him having to wear a “nite” pull-up, which not only built up his confidence, but also gave him the sense that he needed to wake up to go to the bathroom rather then in his pull up. • • •

layer one is the quilted layer of soft fabric layer two is the absorbent soaker specially designed to draw & disperse fluid evenly. layer three a non slip barrier fabric.

No separate waterproof is needed. These bed mats are Australian made, fantastic quality and are sold at an unbeatable price of $33.00! To place an order or have a look at some of Cheeky Chuckles other products, please visit their website at

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What’s on the menu.......... CHOCOLATE or CARAB?

Frozen Carob Bananas 4 bananas 4 wooden sticks Bar of organic Carob 1/2 cup crushed nuts • Peel bananas and cut in 1/2. • Insert a wooden stick in each banana. • Freeze 2 hrs. • Melt the carob in a double boiler. • Dip each banana in the carob, and then roll in nuts. • Refreeze Serve frozen!

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Did you know? Carob is an alternative to chocolate? For anyone wishing to avoid chocolate, carob provides a tasty, caffeine free, healthy alternative.

_________ The Menu by Kate Martin

Derived from the pods of the carob tree, carob has a similar taste to chocolate and is often used as a substitute in cakes, cookies and desserts. The tannins in carob powder have an astringent effect on the intestines, making it useful for treating diarrhoea. Its also shown to reduce high cholesterol due to its significant dietary fibre content. Carob has: Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, C, E, folate, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, silica, zinc, fibre, protein & carbohydrate. WOW!

Quick Tips on Healthy Snacks in a Nutshell •

• • • •

Does it look like a fruit or vegetable if you are selecting fruit or vegetable? I.e. you can’t pick a fruit roll up from the garden. REAL fruit and veg are loaded with fibre and vitamins and minerals. The Fruit Roll Up substitute is loaded with FAKE sugars and colours. If you have selected a packaged food, reading the back of the packet, do you know what each ingredient is? If you can’t pronounce it, don’t buy it. Avoid food colour additives. Avoid any caffeinated energy drinks even soft drinks. Above all – choose wholefoods foods that look like real foods

If you would further nutritional information with food choices for you or your family, or perhaps fitness advice, please contact me on 0404 508 789 or katlyn_eakin@hotmail.com

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Cheers

The History of Wine

Wine of the Month

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______________ The House of Vintner

Cheers!! Have you ever considered why we clink our wine glasses and where this tradition began? Toasts are an integral part of many of our special celebrations, particularly at weddings and birthdays and other major milestones or special occasions. A toast typically begins with well-wishes offered to a particular person - it is often a declaration of success, good health or congratulations. The reason the clinking of glasses is said to have evolved Legend or history has it that wine was often poisoned so one drinker would clink his glass against another’s in order to enable a little of the liqid to spill into his suspected assailant’s cup, as a way of avoiding any possible poisoning attempt. If a companion was content to drink the wine that had now been potentially contaminated, it was safe to drink. Supposedly if a person felt safe enough he would simply clink the class rather than attempting to share the contents, which was a show of trust or faith in his drinking companion. Other theories Clinking glasses started in modern times after people stopped ‘sharing a cup’ (or passing it around). To feel more connected, drinkers started clinking their glasses, as a symbolic way to show they were still sharing the experience, or drinking to the same thing or for the same reason. It could have become a show of solidarity! What do you think?

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The History of Wine

Wine is steeped in history; a history that predates Christ, who we all know from Biblical times changed water into wine. But just where did it all start?

Wine-making had a very interesting advent. Antediluvian jars of clay or pottery were found at Godin Tepe, Iran, and it was discovered via modern chemical testing methods that they had contained wine at some point. This exciting revelation dates wine production occurring before the Bronze Age, c.3500 - 2900 BC. Other information in this discovery revealed that this area was not a grape harvested precinct. The crops derived from this region were, in fact, grain and it would appear that the local drink of choice was beer; the beer you drink today enjoys a long history. Godin was more likely the site from which wine production took place; located on the Silk Road from China to the Mediterranean – suggesting it was the more likely wine source. History reveals that vines were widely planted in Egypt around 3000BC. Confirmation that wine was used as a trade commodity has been revealed through other archaeological pottery finds and subsequent examination of the compounds of those vessels to substantiate the claim. Wine became a strong link in religious orders, a part of ceremony

and celebration; serving as a symbol of the blood of Christ. A renowned monk of 1670 - 1715AD, Dom Pèrignon, was a skilled viticulturist/winemaker and is attributed to the discovery of Champagne. Grape harvest and winemaking proliferated throughout Europe in the Greek and Roman times. Wine became such a valuable trade item that the Romans, in 97BC, ordered the destruction of vines in other regions - an attempt to protect their wine trade; and yet today, wine is still enjoyed the world over and experienced in many facets, as a career, a passion, a commercial enterprise, corporate identity, and even an expression of success and celebration. Wine is an ever-changing, evolving and revolutionary product that despite its history and mystery remains innovatory, avant-garde and successful in its production and manufacture. The wine industry remains one of the most viable commodities of world trade, it is a resourceful and lucrative industry that never fails to surprise and delight wine-lovers across the globe.

Michelle Hayward Photography

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Michelle Hayward Photography

The House of Vintner recently had the absolute pleasure of sampling and reviewing the 201 Chambourcin REVIEW - ‘WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THE ‘201 CHAMBOURCIN’ Chambourcin is a suprisingly light and refreshing red wine. It is so comfortable to drink and is as viable to enjoy now as it is after being cellared for five years! Perfect with your favourite red meat! Introduce to friends who aren’t big red wine drinkers... you will convert them after one sip. Medium-bodied with a soft finish, Chambourcin is the perfect wine to start you off if you are thinking of going down the red wine path. This is not one of those gutsy reds. It is gentle to the palate and will surprise and delight every time. Perfect to enjoy after a long, hard day! Sparkling Chambourcin is a similar texture and is a pleasure to drink. Next time you have a special event to celebrate, consider 201 Sparkling Chambourcin instead of your usual sparkling wine. Your guests will be pleasantly surprised at the ‘melt in your mouth’ feel to this beautiful wine. Chill for your drinking pleasure. WE LOVE THE CORK!!!!! 201 Sparkling Chambourcin comes with a resealable “cork” www.gcgrapevine.com.au

Wine of the Month

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