Happy First Birthday

Just sending a birthday wish to my baby boy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!

You add sunshine to my day.
xo

P.S Hey Bambini will return soon - we are still enjoying the summer on the beach!
We hope you are too.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for your support in 2009.

The Hey Bambini team will return early January 2010.

Safe Holidays.

xo

In the Wars

Oh dear!
My bubba has been "in the wars"

We are off to hospital on Monday for an operation.
I'm SO nervous for him.
l think I've nearly drunk a whole bottle of wine tonight thinking about.

But there was relief around 8pm - the anesthetist called and put all my worries at ease.
l had no idea they worked that late!

So to cut a LONG story short we are off the air for the next few days.

Wish us Luck!
xo

Va Piano in Brunswick East

l know we keep doing a lot of "North" cafes but they just keep popping up like mushrooms!

Va Piano caught my eye weeks ago and we finally paid a visit.

My partner in crime and l opted for breakfast and it was delicious!
We both ordered the baked eggs and they were amazing! Cooked to perfection.

Va Piano is very small and seats less than 16 - so ladies visit the "powder room" before leaving home. And in having said that, sadly there is not much room for bub either.

This week l also found out a useless fact for you all.
If a cafe has less than 16 seats - legally they don't have to provide toilet facilities.
l had no idea.

Va Piano should be high on your list if your flying solo - with smooth coffee and yummy Italian influenced snacks from panini's to wraps with all your usual trimmings.

Mosey on in for delicious rewards and leave the kids at home.

Has anyone seen my husband?

l know it's a busy time of year - yadda yadda yadda...
but my hubby has gone missing in action.
It's been weeks since we've seen him!

Well sort of.
Might be a slight exaggeration...
(Runs in the family)

This is how my week has gone so far....

I wake up in the morning - alone.
l eat dinner - alone.
l go to bed - alone.

l sense a theme.

Honey although you'll never read this - don't work too hard!

We miss you!
I'll be glad when the silly season is OVER!
xo

Beach Holiday Adventures

Well we are back.
Those long weekends are just not long enough sometimes.

The family and l flew up to Sydney on Thursday afternoon and l must say l was a tad nervous as it was my sons first plane trip. Before l had children l was the one in the cue at the airport staring at the screaming children who where boarding my flight and quietly praying they wouldn't be sitting behind me.

Now the shoe is on the other foot.
Ahh!

Taking a deep breath - we boarded

l managed to smuggle two new toys into my handbag so he would have something FRESH and exciting to play with and it worked like a charm. Then after we took off he fell asleep.

"Wunderbar!"

He was an angel - l know l'm bias but he was - thank god, and here l was breathing into a paper bag for nothing.

So the Hey Bambini tip....
Buy a new toy for on the plane!

Now we didn't manage to find any baby friendly cafes - but we did manage to clean out the local op shop with an amazing find of 40 vintage children's books for next to nothing!

l was just a little bit excited.
Lame l know.

In the coming weeks we hope to head south of the city, if you have any favourite cafes - please share them with us.

Enjoy the rain!
xo

Sydney here we come!

Hey Bambini are off to Sydney!

We will be looking for some great
baby friendly cafes to share with you.

Wish us luck!
xo

We Love Summer

Hey Bambini loves summer and we can't wait
to find some great cafes near the beach!

Do you have a favourite beach cafe??

xo

Last Day to WIN Little Innoscents Pack

It's the last day to go into the draw
to WIN the Little Innoscents Pack

Be quick!

Competition Ends at Midnight Tonight.

Good Luck
xo

Sweet Source on Rathdowne

l had a "baby" free morning on Friday.
It was heaven.
Don't get me wrong l love my son to BITS but a girl has
to have morning tea alone sometimes.

I've been dying to try Sweet Source on Rathdowne St in Carlton.
They serve fresh quality cakes and desserts.
l only had time for a quick latte and a
small cupcake but oh my goodness it was worth it.

Now l would love to say l took heaps of photos so you could all see, but to be honest l was too busy drooling over the selection of muffins, tarts, gingerbread and slices.

Not at all good for the waistline but who cares!

Sweet Source is not really "built" for the baby crowd - although they are quiet welcome.
It's a very small and intimate place.

The up side though is the Christmas "goodies" menu.
If your pressed for time (like myself) then you
can organise your Christmas treats in one easy order.

You will be spoilt for choice with fresh Puddings,
rich Fruit Mince Pies and Sweet Torte's to pop on your Christmas table.

My personal favourite was the Gingerbread House.
A beautiful centre piece for a magical family Christmas day.

(For all orders contact Sweet Source before the 16th December)
**Image by Estelle Judah**

We Love the Rain

We are loving all this lovely rain!
Great for our gardens and good for our farmers.

We found two more cafes for our website yesterday.
Very excited.

Stay tuned.
xo

North Adventures

Another week - another few more cafes to add to our growing list.

We now welcome Pearl Oyster cafe to our site
This lovely little cafe is situated in West Preston and definitely worth a visit.
A retro cafe with loads of heart.



We also welcome The Nursery Cafe in Essendon.
A bustling spot with loads of mums and bubs.
It seems to be a favourite with the local ladies.



And to top the week off brunch at the Red Door Corner Store Cafe in Northcote.
We love the this place but unfortunately they have
no highchair, changing facilities or things for the kids to do.


But we still love them anyway!

Worth a visit if your having a weekend "date" with hubby and the
grandparents are babysitting!

If you've seen a cafe you love please let us know!

**See website for full reviews**

Fresh flowers

l would love to take credit for these.
Beautiful blooms from my mums garden to brighten your day.

Vintage Stamps

There is a little old man down the street from me who has a stamp shop.

He has been in Brunswick for over 60 years in the same shop.
His Dad ran the shop and passed it onto him.
The shop is filled with old stamps from all over the world.
So many colourful designs and prints that date back to at least the 1900's.

Here a few of my favourites

I'm going back to get some vintage Christmas stamps to make gift tags with.

Delightful!
xo

John and Betty

We ventured out to Doncaster this week to check out the John and Betty Exhibition.

An old book from the 50's, 60's and early 70's (well before my time to may l add!)
bought to life by a variety of artists. Take a nostalgic look back on early
childhood and pop down to the Manningham Gallery.

Entry is Free and the exhibition runs til 21st November.

Babies and children welcome at the gallery, so get
out of the heat and pay them a visit this week.

A lovely way to spend the day for all you lovers of vintage books!

We Love the Magic Faraway Tree

So many childhood memories...

Getting lost among the pages of these books on a
rainy winter's day was something l loved to do.

So many adventures and wondering what land lies above the tips of the trees.

They are indeed my favourite.

They were passed down by my mum and l can only hope my
children get as much enjoyment from them as l did.

It still amazes me why it hasn't been made into a movie yet

That would be truly magical!

xo

Feel like shopping in another country?

Don't get me wrong, l love our local supermarket.
Your run of the mill type...rude check-out chicks and buy 12 get one free deals.
Great!

So if your feeling like you need a change with the food variety, then sink your teeth into these little great shopping spots around Melbourne and try something new.

A little Italian maybe...
Mediterranean Wholesalers in Sydney Rd Brunswick.
Amazing Italian oils, breads, cheese, wines and sweets. l could go on. Very reasonably priced and a great variety of everyday ingredients that you use - cheap pasta and canned goods.

A little Middle eastern perhaps....
Bas Foods in Brunswick also offer a wide variety of dried fruits, nuts and spices. Very inspiring to walk through and grab a can of something unusual. l purchased a huge jar of Tahini which keeps forever and is great to make home made hummus with. Yum!

Or something spicy and Asian influenced instead...
Laguna Oriental Supermarket is located at QV. Tucked away out the back this great little gem offers everything that is Asian from curries to satay. They have an excellent noodle range and also all those lovely sauces and toppings for homemade soups and stir fry.

Hope we have given you some ideas that
inspire you to travel the world without leaving the kitchen!

Ciao for now!
xo

Some Cafe's from last month.....

October was busy.
We manged to squeeze in loads of places.
They were all lovely and two do stand out in my mind - although don't get too excited as they didn't tick all the Hey Bambini boxes for the kids, and wont be on the website, but l feel they need a mention.

Need a caffeine fix - and a good one at that.
Try Sevens Seeds located in Carlton, I swear l could smell the coffee as l got out of the car. Loads of room to move, but it's really more of a "business crowd" in here during the week. Staff were friendly and helpful. Not only do they have a food and drinks menu they also have a fantastic coffee menu where you can choose from a variety of beans and blends to take home. l got the Deadman's Espresso Blend for my hubby's morning coffee. Great name for a coffee blend and it's a smooth brew that packs a punch.

Then we ventured to the "other side" of the river to Kanteen. Situated along the Yarra River this picturesque cafe is good to take people who are from out of town. It's nice to experience something a little different. Great outdoor seating but as you are right on the Yarra l wouldn't advise taking a tribe of young children - unless you're a great swimmer! Need to be on your toes with that! Kids love water - especially dirty water. Food was good, staff nice enough - they didn't offer me a highchair which l was unaware they had until l saw another wee one sitting who arrived after us. Oh well!

Be sure to check the website as we visited a lot of country cafes in October. With the weather being nicer it's fun to leave the city behind for the day.

Oh and l must say we visited Pearl Oyster on the weekend in West Preston and it was AMAZING!!
Will be up on the website soon!
xo

November Newsletter

Hot off the press!!!

Our monthly Newsletter...

Grab a cool drink and enjoy

xo

We Love....

Old movies!

Classic black and white movies are perfect for a Sunday afternoon.
Or a Thursday!

One of my favourites is Top Hat with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

They just don't make them like this anymore.
Beautiful costumes, stunning sets and magical dance steps.

Enjoy!
xo

Check out the link and click on the movie poster to be taken back in time...

Free Babycino!

If you are ever heading down to Harbour Town in the city to check
out all the new shops pop into Le Cirque Fine Foods.
They serve light lunch's, coffee and yummy cakes.
Oh and also with every purchase you get a FREE babycino for bubba!

Delicious!!

The shopping complex also has changing facilities
and on some weekends free family entertainment.

On a sunny day you can sit on the board walk and watch all the pretty boats!

xo

We Love Coco Boheme Bibs!

Amazing colours and good for the environment.

Coco Boheme Bibs are not only cute, funky and stylish they are also biodegradable.

Made from potato starch these little numbers will deteriorate in one to two years.

Wow!

Don't worry they wont fall apart on your little one after a huge meal, they need
to be buried in compost,thus breaking down returning them to nature!

What will they think of next!

xo

Happy Halloween to All

Happy Halloween!
Have a fabulous weekend with your families.

Hey Bambini are up for a huge weekend and
cant wait to share all our adventures.
We are off to the Melbourne Derby Day, some great little
cafes and Springfest in Ballarat.

Woo! l think we'll need a holiday after all of that!

Also next week we have the scoop on FREE babycinos
at a great little place in the city.

Enjoy your families and the sunshine this weekend.

xo

**Image from Belle and Boo**

Last Days to Win Curash Pack

Just a friendly reminder for all of you who haven't yet
subscribed to the Hey Bambini Newsletter.

When you subscribe this month you got into
the draw to win a fab Curash pack for bub.

Be quick only a few days left!
xo

Hit and Miss today

Another day another cafe conquered

We ventured over to Williamstown today to check out the lay of the land

l was with a friend so l usually let them choose
the place and l just go with the flow.

We went to Atomic Bar, Cafe and Grill for lunch.
Lovely lunch but not the most child friendly place l've been to.
They wouldn't give me a high chair as we were sitting outside,
maybe they thought l'd try to steal it?? And the service was terrible.
l hate giving bad reviews but at least you know not to drag the family there.

The scenery was beautiful.
That was the highlight - oh and of course seeing
my girlfriend of 20 years who is 30 weeks preggers.


Til next time
xo

Something to make you smile today

This made me laugh. It's toooo cute!
l think I've watched it a dozen times already.
A friend sent it to me a few days ago.
Step aside Beyonce!

Enjoy!
xo

Out and About Again!

Today was a day in the sunshine.

We were suppose to be reviewing cafes in the city but instead my parents were down from the country.
My dad had a hospital visit. Nothing major.

All good.

So me and bub made a few pit stops on the way home. Sitting in waiting rooms is draining!

We had a sandwich and coffee at Jellybean Cafe on Victoria Pde in East Melbourne.
Very nice. Check out the cute mugs. They were like giant egg cups!





Then a stroll through Carlton Gardens on the way home.
Also very nice - it's one of my favourite parks in the city. l really do love it here.
So green and peaceful with the 'hum' of the city in the back ground.



Then to top it off we had an ice-cream at the Gelobar in Brunswick East.
They do $2 baby cones which my bubba loved - although l ate most of it!

It was a very low-key day today
Back to full swing "Bambini" adventures tomorrow.
I'm heading west of the city, should be fun.

Til next time
xo
P.S **No changing facilities or anything for the bub today - just good old fashioned fresh air, love and a quick nuddie dash in the local hospital toilet!**
xo

Films with Food

I'll admit it.
I'm a movie nut.
I'm the one still sitting at the end of the film watching the credits.
Sad l know.
So when my two favourite things are combined - food and film l get even more excited!

Here are a few films that involve food that l love.
Hope your inspired to hire them out to watch this week.

l love Chocolat

A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small
French village that shakes up the rigid morality of the community

l love Julie and Julia

Julia Child's story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell's 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child's first book.

And lets not forget the kids.....


The kids will love Ratatouille

Remy is a young rat in the French countryside who arrives in Paris, only to find out that his cooking idol is dead. When he makes an unusual alliance with a restaurant's new garbage boy, the culinary and personal adventures begin despite Remy's family's skepticism and the rat-hating world of humans

And last but no least, a classic we all love....

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

A poor boy wins the opportunity to tour the
most eccentric and wonderful candy factory of all!

Ciao for now
xo

We love Envirosax!

l love a bag - always been a fan of a bag.
God knows l have at least 80 in my cupboard collected from all over the world.

So when l hear l can put a bag in my bag l get excited!
Envirosax bags are nifty little bags that roll up and are small enough to pop into your handbag or nappy bag. So when the time comes and you need an extra bag say when your grocery shopping, going away or popping down to the gym these bags can be easily rolled out and are great to pile all your stuff into.
Check out the designs and colours at the web site.




I've even had the idea that they would make great little Christmas pressie's,
with a variety of funky designs to choose from.

P.S Not only will you look stylish with these cute bags
but you'll be helping the environment too!!

Ciao for now bella's
xo

Ye Olde Ballarat

l heart Ballarat.

A lot of childhood memories are kept up there.
Along with many young adult memories as well.
So if your ever passing through town here are a few cheeky cafes to visit.
They have no changing facilities but we still love them anyway.

Located in Sturt St is L'Espresso Cafe.
Creamy coffee, homemade cakes along with a great Australian wine list you'll settle into this cosy nook for the morning. Sorry ladies no room for the prams which means you take an outside table - weather permitting!

Then we have Oscars.
This art deco boutique hotel has a stunning restaurant/cafe attached to it. Everything is on offer from breakfast to lunch then some dinner and everything else in between. Why not make a weekend of it and book a luxury room upstairs and tour the sights and sounds of old Ballarat.
Room for prams but no changing facilities.

Seen somewhere you love?
Tell us!
Ciao Bella's
xo