The Gallery - Holidays!

This week's theme for Sticky Fingers' gallery is "Holidays". Could there be a better theme at this time of the year? I don't think so.

I am sure that we all love holidays, who wouldn't! When we lived in Australia, we were spoiled for choice when deciding where to spend our holidays. Australia is a huge continent with so many different places to visit. Not only it has the most beautiful white sandy beaches in the world, but you can also go skiing and diving. It's true, it's not like skiing in the Alps, but the most important is you can go and enjoy skiing in a long sleeved t-shirt!

Also going on holidays before having Isabelle was completely different. I can't say I don't enjoy family holidays better, it's just different. I have to admit I still love going on short holidays just with my husband. Please, don't hate me for that!

Me skiing in the Austrian Alps

Cyprus family holiday

Cook Islands - Raratonga

Cook Islands - Me collecting coconuts

Great Barrier Reef

Whitsunday Islands - Us diving & snorkeling

Whitsunday Islands - A boat trip

Isabelle's footprint - Crete holiday

Crete holiday

Skiing in the Czech Republic

Cybermummy 2010 - I was there!

I cannot believe I am writing this post. I was soooo excited when I got sponsored to go to the conference and at that time I thought it was ages away. Now Cybermummy is over, I was there and still cannot get over the amazing experience and meeting all the wonderful mummy bloggers.

Before the conference, I was on Twitter (@Kahanka) all the time, and as everyone else even I was panicking that I would not know anyone... Then luckily I came across Muddlingalongmummy's post about meeting up at the Earls court tube station. There I also met the wonderful Babyrambles and spent most of the conference in her company.

I have to say the 3 key people AlphaMummy, Mummytips (had a pleasure to have a quick chat to her) and AModernMother, who organised this event, did such a great job and am sure that all the mummy bloggers who attended would agree. Here is my big THANK YOU! The only thing I would do differently were the badges...they kept on turning around... a bit annoying when looking for people you don't know.

Before going, I had a few bloggers in mind I wanted to meet and I think I met most of them. Sitting next to Tara from Sticky fingers was just amazing as I love her Gallery Wednesday. It was also nice when people were approaching me and recognising me from my twitter avatar. It was impossible to meet everyone, but for next time I will have a list and will be a bit more organised.

Originally I was planning to stay a bit longer, to have a few more drinks especially with thesleepisfortheweak and mochabeaniemummy, but have to admit that I was emotionally exhausted and decided to leave earlier. Another thing to remember for next time, even though I live in London, it's better to book a hotel and not to worry about returning home.... (a bit drunk)

By the way, has anybody taken a picture with me in it ??? I have no pictures......(very sad!!!)

Anyway, all in all, cannot wait for the Cybermummy 2011!

Kurtis Baby Peace Giveaway Competition!

For my July giveaway competition I have teamed up with the Kurtis Baby Peace and they will be kindly donating one of their great Baby Peaces to one lucky winner.

How to enter?

1. Follow my blog and
2. Comment on your favourite/least favourite prints/colours
3. For an extra entry mention this competition on Twitter including @Kahanka in the tweet
   

If you are an All Baby Advice follower already, don't forget to comment
on your favourite/least favourite prints and colours to be entered in the competition.

Terms and Conditions:

• The closing date of the competition is 21/07/2010
• The winner will be chosen at random from all entrants.
• The winner's name will be made available on this page.
• Competition is open to residents of the UK and Ireland only.
• The prize is non-refundable and cannot be transferred. No cash alternative is available.

And the winner is @second_time_mum

The Gallery - Our Nanna turning 90!

This week's gallery theme is "EMOTIONS". I have to admit that I am a very emotional person and since having Isabelle I have been showing them much more than before. I have asked some of my mummy friends and most of them agree that after having children you become much more emotional. It's not only crying, but also being angry and very protective when it has to do anything with my darling Isabelle. My husband says that she is the centre of my world, which she definitely is, but of course I don't love him less than before having her. He just had to learn to share me with her.

Last weekend was very emotional for our family, as it was our nan's 90th birthday celebration. We all flew to Belfast to visit her and spend some time with her and granddad on such an important event for her. She is always so happy when we come and visit. They moved there 5 years ago, used to live just round the corner from where we live now, but they decided to spend a few years with their friend who lives near Belfast. It's not easy to understand why, but it was their decision and we have to respect it. We would love to go and see them more often, but as my family lives in the Czech republic, we also have to fly to see them, it's not that easy.

I have never written about nan and granddad on this blog, but have decided this is the right time to do so. They are both very special people to my hubby, not just like all grandparents are. They are actually like parents to him and his sister, as they raised them up and we all are very grateful to them for doing so. When I met my husband, I was very confused about his family history, but having these people in his life was the best of luck he could have ever gotten. I love them both and wish they could be with us for many more years.

Don't forget to visit the writing workshop and the other gallery posts.

My Review of the Ju-Ju-Be Behave Bag from JellyBean!

When I received this fabulous Ju Ju Behave changing Bag from JellyBeans for a review, I loved it from the first sight. I didn't know which bag I would be reviewing, but this one is just "me".

The brown Earth LeatherTM (animal free and earth friendly) bag has a beautiful pink flowery fabric lining and has so many pockets inside you will never be looking for your mobile or car keys again! As it is made of the Earth LeatherTM, it's not as heavy as real one, but still gives you the leather look. It has two handles and an attachable strap, comes in brown or black. Oh, and have I mentioned it's machine washable? It doesn't look like a changing bag, but like a very stylish bag you can be proud of! What else to wish for? Have a look at the pictures I took and am sure you will fall in love with it too.

To find out more about this bag or to check the rest of the JellyBean changing bags, go to the official website www.jellybeangroup.co.uk

There is a side pocket on each side, giving you even more space!

You will fall in love with the inside, such a lovely print!

Silver Cross Days Out Website!

Silver Cross is inviting all families with young children to visit their Days Out website (www.silvercrossdaysout.co.uk) and comment on their experiences of days out, and to see other reviews enabling them to choose the very best venues in their location.


They decided to build this website after several of their customers said that they were frustrated that the existing websites that provided recommendations on where to take children were commercially motivated and often did not allow for reviews.


They will not allow any advertising or sponsorship on the site as this exciting new development has been built for the benefit of the community and it is up to you to both take advantage of the reviews and also give us accounts of your experiences, good and bad, so others can be helped by what you have discovered.

Silver Cross Days Out Competition:

- To enter someone simply has to add a venue into the Silver Cross Days Out website
(ends 31st July 2010).

- Winners will be randomly picked.

- The more times someone enters, the more chances they have to win!

Prizes

1x Scottish National Trust: Family Pass (annual membership entitles two adults at one address and any of their children or grandchildren under 18).
Plus
1x English Heritage: Joint Adult Pass (annual membership entitles free, unlimited entry to 400 properties plus free entry for up to six accompanying children - under 19 - within your family group).

OR

1x National Trust: Family Pass (annual membership entitles two adults living at one address and any of their children or grandchildren under 18).
Plus
1x English Heritage: Joint Adult Pass (annual membership entitles free, unlimited entry to 400 properties plus free entry for up to six accompanying children - under 19 - within your family group).

My darling becoming an artist!

When you look at this picture, what can you see?

I gave Isabelle a sheet of paper the other day and told her to draw something nice, so that mummy could do some housework. When I finished and looked at this wonderful picture, I was almost in tears. Not long ago, she wasn't even able to draw lines, and now she draws lines and circles. And have you seen the details of the faces? They have eyes! Big eyes! How do I know they are faces? I have asked her, she told me it was a picture of our family and her friends. How lovely. Maybe one day she will become a famous artist!