tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36354722694354368662024-02-20T01:48:19.425+11:00Hey BambiniHey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-75318688885288720482015-08-27T11:55:00.000+10:002015-08-27T11:55:31.816+10:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZNyk-jgM0Zmn12tGWUoQT1oYwblRPgqBrz5XZwJGlgLAmavWDRif82H2Xckn-4JzSk8axOODKcqBmXeIuT4eew3i2YH2s5J_xKmCa5n84ZrWrjrdP2xdPeAiWVcdUlQms_oYN1Dp-9E/s1600/Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZNyk-jgM0Zmn12tGWUoQT1oYwblRPgqBrz5XZwJGlgLAmavWDRif82H2Xckn-4JzSk8axOODKcqBmXeIuT4eew3i2YH2s5J_xKmCa5n84ZrWrjrdP2xdPeAiWVcdUlQms_oYN1Dp-9E/s640/Picture.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulawessells/">{Source}</a></td></tr>
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<br />Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-29477254322777757522014-06-30T20:22:00.000+10:002014-06-30T23:17:58.363+10:00Road Test :: Mr Men Little Miss Afternoon TeaWell it’s that time of the year again folks. The two words that some parents dread “school holidays”. For some this means extra mess around the house, endless piles of washing, kids arguing over ridiculous things and of course in winter the one we all love – a touch of cabin fever!<br />
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For us school holidays are all about outings into the city and our two weeks are usually filled with visits to the movies, the museum, <a href="http://heybambini.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/yum-cha-family-friendly-dining.html">yum cha</a> and a cruise around the Melbourne Emporium. One of the requests these holidays was to visit The Langham to experience their magnificent <a href="http://www.melbarestaurant.com.au/aria/whats-on/mr-men-little-miss-high-tea">Children’s High Tea</a>. We’ve been a <a href="http://heybambini.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/road-test-disneys-frozen-afternoon-tea.html">few times</a> now and Mr 5 truly finds the whole event of sharing plates of sweet treats highly enjoyable, as would most of us! It was Mr 3.5’s second visit and he was fairly well behaved, apart from some loud talking and over excitement about the fountains in the hotel’s main <br />
foyer.<br />
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As always The Langham know how to conduct a fine high tea, the staff are extremely helpful and friendly with the children and we all walked away with full tummies.<br />
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The theme these school holidays is Mr Men and Little Miss. Kids can snack on sweet treats like Little Miss Sunshine honey joys, Mr Messy fairy floss cupcakes, Mr Daydream cookies and Little Miss Dotty fairy bread.<br />
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The chef’s and creators of the children’s high tea really go that extra mile to make it such a magical experience and the theming of all the food is so appealing for the wee ones. The kids munched their way through three tiers of goodies which was all washed down with hot chocolates and pink lemonade. <br />
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In between the fairy floss cupcakes and fairy bread the kids even got to colour in some <a href="http://www.melbarestaurant.com.au/aria/whats-on/mr-men-little-miss-high-tea">Mr Men</a> themed activity sheets. In all it was a fairly stress free morning with my boys and for us it was a nice way to celebrate the start of the school holidays. <br />
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So if you’re looking for a cosy indoor activity these winter holidays look no further than <a href="http://www.melbarestaurant.com.au/aria/whats-on/mr-men-little-miss-high-tea">The Langham Children’s High Tea.</a><br />
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<strong><u>Cost</u></strong><br />
$30 per child<br />
$54 per adult<br />
$45 per child with take home Mr Men Activity Set<br />
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<strong><u>Times and Dates</u></strong><br />
30th June – 18th July 2014<br />
10am – 11.30am <br />
Or 12 noon -1.30pm<br />
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<strong><u>Bang for your Buck – What Do You Get!</u></strong><br />
Superior High Tea Service in a Child Friendly Atmosphere<br />
Themed Children’s Picture Book and Colouring Pack to take home (Optional) <br />
High Chairs on Site<br />
Change Table<br />
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<strong><u>Bambini Tips</u></strong><br />
Close to the <a href="http://nga.gov.au/Home/Default.cfm">NGV</a> - South Bank - Transport available are Trams and Trains<br />
Ideal for out of towner’s looking for the ultimate Melbourne foodie experience<br />
Ideal birthday treat for your little man or little miss Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-69665232052739684282014-06-19T14:09:00.000+10:002014-06-19T14:46:36.142+10:00Cafes That Host Kids Parties<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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So you’ve said YES to have that party your little Mr or Miss has been begging you to have since the previous birthday. Of course it can be hard to source a venue for 5 plus ankle biters and sometimes parents just don’t have the time or energy to spend a whole week planning and fussing over cake, decorations and treats bags. <br />
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Have you ever considered having your little ones party at a café? They have the space, they have the fully equipped kitchen, more than one toilet and they also clean up the mess when you leave. The only hard decision you have to make is which venue to host your party in and of course the party date.<br />
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Here’s our top pick of cafes that can host your next kids parties<br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=59">Lullabelles</a> :: This quaint cosy café runs Mini High Tea Parties which are exclusively hosted on Saturday afternoons from 2.30pm-4pm. Mainly targeted at girls your party table can be laden with little sandwiches, fairy bread, coloured popcorn, chocolate strawberries, cupcakes and sausage rolls with a variety of kid friendly drinks on offer. <br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: From $30 per child with a minimum of 8 children<br />
<strong>Phone</strong> :: (03) 9889 2314 <br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=140">Cubbyhouse Canteen</a> :: Party in the enclosed park (weather permitting) and enjoy tasty eats, a trestle table and picnic rugs which are all provide by Cubbyhouse Canteen. Kids can snack on fairy bread, honey joys and homemade sausage rolls with various kid friendly drinks on offer. They can also provide you with a birthday cake for an extra cost.<br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: Minimum spend of $200 on food from Cubbyhouse Canteen<br />
<strong>Phone</strong> :: 0421 173 886<br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=115">The Farm Café</a> :: Give the city kids a taste of country life in this quintessential farm setting venue with various engaging activities like tractor rides and milking cows. Once all the hard work is done kids can tuck into <a href="http://www.farmcafe.com.au/kids-parties-melbourne/">wholesome homemade eats</a>, country influenced sweet treats and mini drinks.<br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: From $150 for the first 8 children <br />
<strong>Phone</strong> :: (03) 9415 6581<br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=164">Crafternoon</a> :: Paste, cut and tape your birthday away at this craft influenced venue. Get your craft on with a range of <a href="http://www.crafternooncafe.com.au/index.php/catering-functions/2-tea-parties">crafty party packages</a> to choose from which included cake. They can also provide the invitations!<br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: From $20 per child<br />
<strong>Phone</strong> :: (03) 9077 6998<br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=124">Fairfield Boathouse</a> :: Party riverside and escape to a bush oasis which just happens to be a stone’s throw from the CBD. Kids can party by the river, explore the local park or hire a paddle boat. For festive eats and treats <a href="http://www.fairfieldboathouse.com/?page_id=14">choose from a selection of party food</a> for the kids, package also includes unlimited soft drink .<br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: From $22 per child - Boat Hire not included<br />
<strong>Phone</strong> :: (03) 9486 1501<br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=190">Jam and Cream Café</a> :: Host the perfect high tea party for your little miss in a vintage caravan complete with crochet cushions and handmade doilies. With freshly made scones, sweet treats and petite drinks on offer your little miss and guests will have a magical afternoon in true high tea style. <br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: From $15 per child. Birthday Cake is at an extra cost.<br />
<strong>Phone</strong> :: (03) 9457 3356<br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=141">Oliver’s Garden</a> :: Celebrate in the beautiful surrounds of Queens Park. With a park, a lake, ducks to feed and<a href="http://www.oliversgarden.com.au/functions.html"> party food</a> this is the ultimate casual party in the park. <br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: Mini Party Food Boxes from $10 per child. Birthday Cake is at an extra cost<br />
<strong>Phone</strong> :: (03) 9372 0438<br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=78">Phoenix Park Café</a> :: Kids can explore the large adventure playground while the café can provide basic party food and drinks like sausage rolls, party pies, fairy bread and cupcakes. BYO decorations.<br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: From $16 per child. Birthday Cake is at an extra cost<br />
<strong>Phone</strong> :: (03) 9563 4587<br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=147">Cake Bakeshop</a> :: This sweet little cake shop can be transformed into the ultimate Cupcake Making or Cake Decorating Party. Your little ones big day can be planned and is hosted by the folk from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LittleDayOut">Little Big Day Out</a> who work in conjunction the Cake Bakeshop. They offer a variety of themes and food and are flexible with decorations. <br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: From $20 per child. Birthday Cake is at an extra cost<br />
<strong>Phone</strong> :: (03) 5333 3384 <br />
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<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=202">Fussy Pots</a> :: This adorable space is scattered with vintage trinkets and furniture to give a real homely feeling. Fussy Pots offer a variety of <a href="http://www.fussypots.com.au/#!children-parties/c182s">party themes along with good old fashioned party games</a>, craft activities and party food. The manager of the café is only too happy to style a theme to your child’s liking to make the day a memorable one.<br />
<strong>Cost</strong> :: From $25 per child. Birthday Cake is at an extra cost.<br />
<strong>Phone </strong>:: (03) 9885 0439<br />
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<em><strong>*Please Note*</strong></em><br />
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<em>- Venue pricing/menus are subject to change at any time. <br /><br />- Any special diet requirements need to be communicated via the venue.<br /><br />- Birthday Cake is usually an extra cost/additional cost, please check with venue if they can supply one or if you can bring your own before the big day. Remember they may also charge you *cakeage if you bring your own cake! (*cakeage is where a venue charges customers to cut up a cake you supplied – like corkage but for cakes!)<br /><br />- Our suggestions are merely suggestions to provide inspiration. We can’t control the experience on the day. If you’re unsure of the food quality – pop in for breakfast or lunch to check out the venue before booking.<br /><br />- Remember to HAVE FUN!</em>Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-618578944304912002014-04-06T17:07:00.000+10:002014-04-06T17:07:24.656+10:00Muppets Most Wanted Preview So it’s officially day two of the school holidays and we’ve already ticketed off one item from of our bucket list. <br />
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Thanks to the lovely folks over at <a href="http://www.nuffnang.com.au/">Nuffnang</a> we were invited to an advanced screening of the Muppets Most Wanted movie. <br />
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I think l was more than excited than the kids as the Muppets hold a special place in my heart and l have many fond childhood memories of watching them on the telly. Remember the days when you actually had to turn the nob on the telly to tune into the Muppets, that’s how far they go back! Fast forward to 2014 and the Muppets antics and humour haven’t aged a day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://voraciousfilmgoer.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/together-again-again-muppets-most-wanted.html">{Image}</a><br />
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The <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2281587/">Muppets Most Wanted</a> film is a fun-filled adventure. The old gang set off on a theatrical world tour and they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an european jewel-heist by a Kermit the frog imposter, and of course all your favourite characters are along for the ride. Throw in some dazzling Hollywood cameos, a bit of old footage from the TV show, some catchy tunes by the talented <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bret_McKenzie">Bret McKenzie</a>, (one half of the musical comedy duo <a href="http://flightoftheconchords.co.nz/">Flight of the Conchords</a>) and you have yourself a quintessential Muppet movie. <br />
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In all its fairly predictable, but the kids had a fabulous time and could relate to the characters. Mr 5 also got up in the aisle and had a cheeky boogie to some of the show tunes, just like l did when l was a wee pup. From a parents perspective l enjoyed the jokes and reliving some of my favourite characters, who just happen to be Swedish Chef, Dr Teeth, The Newsman, Waldorf and Statler. Also noteworthy was the outrageous Miss Piggy, who sported a different glamorous designer outfit in every scene – l want her wardrobe! <br />
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For a fabulous day out with the family pop the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2281587/">Muppets Most Wanted</a> on your ‘must see’ list. <br />
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Love the Muppets?<br />
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Love the Movies?<br />
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Tell us your FAVOURITE Muppet character and share this post on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeyBambini"> Facebook </a>with your friends to be in the running to WIN the ultimate Muppets Movie Pack<br />
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<strong><u>Pack Includes</u></strong> <br />
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1x Family Pass to see Muppets Most Wanted<br />
A Muppet Movie DVD Pack which includes “The Muppet Movie” (1979) :: The Great Muppet Caper (1981) and “The Muppets” (2011)Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-61858011708937327492014-04-02T12:27:00.001+11:002014-04-02T12:27:57.984+11:00School Holiday Bucket List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can’t believe my little man has completed Term One of Foundation already. Did that go quickly for everyone else too? It will be really nice to spend two weeks with him, although l could be eating my words by the end of the two weeks. <br />
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I’m especially looking forward to not being out the door by 8.30am. Not that we’ll be sleeping in but l believe there will be a pajama day thrown into the mix these school holiday along with a few other activities.<br />
<br />Have you got a school holiday bucket list?<br /><br /><br />
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Visit Grandma and Grandpa on the farm<br /><br />Bake Easter treats<br /><br />See a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0864835/?ref_=nv_sr_1">movie </a>and eat loads of fresh popcorn<br /><br />Visit a <a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/index.asp">Kid Friendly</a> café<br /><br />Have lunch with Daddy in the city<br /><br />Get a fancy new haircut <br /><br />Visit the Dentist <br /><br />PJ day at home<br /><br />Try a <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/hey_bambini/crafty-stuff-for-little-peeps/">new crafty</a> activity <br /><br />Visit the <a href="http://www.littlemelbourne.com.au/to-visit/city-sights/school-holidays-melbourne-cheap-cheerful.html">Little Melbourne</a> website for outing inspiration<br /><br />Spring Clean Bedrooms, Toys and Books<br /><br />Have a picnic lunch at a <a href="http://www.melbourneplaygrounds.com.au/">new park</a><br /></div>
<br />Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-37074137875883603252014-02-06T15:59:00.001+11:002014-02-06T15:59:56.708+11:00Polly Woodside Pirate DayWhat do you do in Melbourne on a 39 degree day? Well you throw caution to the wind and decide to take a tram down to South Wharf, check out the Polly Woodside and have a few cheeky ales on the side. Madness l know! Hey it may not be everyone’s cup of tea to get out and about on a hot day but we like to make the most of our weekends. <br />
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We’d generously been given a family pass to the <a href="http://www.pollywoodside.com.au/">Polly Woodside</a> courtesy of the National Trust of Victoria in conjunction with their <a href="http://www.100daysofsummer.com.au/">100 days of summer campaign.</a><br />
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Now a tiny confession, l have not been to the Polly Woodside for over 30 years and based on my last experience as a child l wasn’t expecting too much. I thought we’d be in and out in about 30 minutes. Oh how wrong l was! <br />
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So unbeknown to me, the first Sunday of every month is pirate day for the kids at the PW. Kids can dress up in the spirit of the theme and join in on the various activities like pirate themed face-painting, pirate crafting, swinging from the sails, scrubbing decks, pirate tattoos and of course a cheeky walk off the plank. <br />
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The kids were totally captivated with the wonderful PW pirate crew and the activities. The staff are a real credit to the <a href="http://www.pollywoodside.com.au/">Polly Woodside</a> – all were extremely helpful and the kids found their pirate antics rather amusing. They especially loved scrubbing the decks under the shower of water from up above, and as it was such a hot day it was the prefect activity for them. Although be careful with those broom sticks, Mr 3 nearly lost an eye thanks to Mr 5. How ironic would it have been if we had to invest in a real eye patch after our outing!<br />
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I was pleasantly surprised by the whole experience and the kids have been raving about the captain and his crew for days, they even went to bed with their pirate swords which were purchased from the PW souvenir store.<br />
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In fact the boys loved it so much we went twice in one day. Yep the kids wanted to go back after lunch. Lucky enough our lunch venue happened to be right next door at <a href="http://www.theboatbuildersyard.com/">The Boatbuilders Yard</a>, you can find all the details on this great place<a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=196"> HERE</a>. They have a sandpit and totem tennis to keep the kids amused and of course kids eats and cold beer (for us – not the kids!). Need l say more! It’s a fabulous spot to visit with kids.<br />
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So after lunch was inhaled and a few pots had been ingested we rolled on back for more pirate antics in the afternoon.<br />
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All in all it was such a great family day out for us, the kids had an amazing time and Mr Bambini and l got to sample some tasty eats and some cold brews. I know l say it a lot – but l HIGHLY recommend a visit to the Polly Woodside with the family. I love it when you don’t have any expectations on how a day will pan out when venturing out with the kids, especially when it was so hot, but the whole family thoroughly enjoyed our outing.<br />
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Want some quick info about this adventure?<br />
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<b>What ::</b> <a href="http://www.pollywoodside.com.au/what_s_on__1">Polly Woodside Pirate Sundays</a><b></b><br />
<b>When ::</b> 1st Sunday of every month from 10am - 4pm<br />
<b>Where ::</b> South Wharf on the Yarra River<br />
<b>Cost ::</b> Adult - $16.00 - Concession - $13.00 - Child - $9.50 - Family - $43.00 ( 2 Adults and 2 Children) - Single Family - $32.00 (1 Adult and 2 Children) - Additional Children $5.00 per child. Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-87453531478150352002013-12-02T06:00:00.000+11:002014-06-30T20:26:41.689+10:00Road Test :: Disney's Frozen Afternoon TeaMr 5’s eyes always light up when l show him our invitation to <a href="http://melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au/disney-high-tea.html">The Langham Afternoon Tea</a> preview. He was especially excited this time round as the theme was Frozen, which just happens to be Disney’s new summer film hitting cinemas this December. Yep this movie nut household is all over it! We saw the Frozen preview at the cinema weeks ago and has now gone onto the school holiday list of things to ‘see’ this summer. You can check out a cheeky preview of the film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">HERE</a>.<br />
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As per usual The Langham have got the “Frozen” theme down pat. Reindeer Cupcakes, Snowflake Cookies, White Ice Lamingtons & Snowmen marshmallows paired with Fairybread are just a few of the delights that will be hitting your table. And of course they are all served with Icy lemonade or Babychinos.<br />
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This time round l decided to bring Mr 3 along for the experience too. I must admit l was a bit nervous taking Mr 3 to The Langham as he does have a tendency to ‘run around’ a bit, especially when he is excited. But to my surprise he actually feel asleep on the tram, which meant l had to lug him from St Kilda Road through to The Langham complex in 30 degree heat. (Oh yeah that was FUN!) Long story short the Langham staff were more than accommodating to help us out and we set him up on the couch to keep sleeping. They even packed us some take away treats in containers so he didn’t miss out on the goodies.<br />
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As always Mr 5 was impressed with the sweets selection and his colouring book.<br />
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All in all it’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon and l got to thinking that it would be the ultimate Christmas gift to give the kids. So instead of stocking up on cheap stocking stuffers this year why not give the <a href="http://melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au/disney-high-tea.html">gift of an experience.</a><br />
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Last school holidays it was a sell out so be sure to <a href="http://melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au/disney-high-tea.html">book your</a> place early.<br />
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You can read about our other Langham experiences <a href="http://heybambini.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/road-test-langham-little-mermaid-tiffin.html">HERE </a>and <a href="http://heybambini.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/disney-peter-pan-afternoon-tea.html">HERE!!</a><br />
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<b><u>Cost</u></b><br />
$30 per child<br />
$45 per child with take home activity set & Disney Frozen Story Book<br />
$54 per adult<br />
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<b><u>Times and Dates</u></b><br />
Monday 2nd January – Friday 31st January 2014<br />
10am – 11.30am <br />
Or 12 noon -1.30pm<br />
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<b><u>Bang for your Buck – What Do You Get!</u></b><br />
Superior High Tea Service in a Child Friendly Atmosphere<br />
Themed Children’s Picture Book and Colouring Pack to take home (Optional) <br />
High Chairs on Site<br />
Change Table<br />
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<b><u>Bambini Tips</u></b><br />
Close to the <a href="http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/">NGV</a> - South Bank - Transport available are Trams and Trains<br />
Ideal for out of towner’s looking for the ultimate Melbourne foodie experience<br />
Ideal birthday or christmas treat for your little man or little miss Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-13293621458515794162013-11-26T13:40:00.002+11:002013-11-26T13:41:38.623+11:00Christmas Round Up<br />
What’s not to LOVE about this time of year? I love a bit of ‘Christmas’ cooking and crafting inspiration, so without further ado here are some of the things we’ll be making, watching, eating and drinking in the Bambini household this Christmas. <br />
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1. <a href="http://lovegrowswild.com/crafts-and-diy-projects/diy-mint-sugar-scrub-holiday-gift-ideas/">DIY Mint Sugar Scrub</a> :: 2. <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/318807/candy-cane-cocktail?search_key=candy+cane+cocktail%3Fxsc%3Dsoc_pin_2013_11_20_Holiday_Christmas+_A&crlt.pid=camp.zNFwGaCkPkbV">Candy Cane Cocktail</a> :: 3. <a href="http://sharonrowanphotodesign.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/day-four-dangly-gift-tags.html">FREE Printable Gift Tags</a></div>
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4. <a href="http://heatherchristo.com/cooks/2012/12/28/raspberry-pomegranate-champagne-cocktail/">Raspberry Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail</a> :: 5. <a href="http://letslassothemoon.com/2013/11/10/family-holiday-movies/">Holiday Movies</a> :: 6. <a href="http://craftsncoffee.com/2011/12/03/christmas-crafts-for-kids-top-10-ornaments-kids-can-make-and-a-party-invitation/">Christmas Crafts For Kids</a></div>
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7. <a href="http://babalisme.blogspot.com.au/2009/12/lets-decor-tree.html">Kids Christmas Tree Activity</a> :: 8. <a href="http://sharonrowanphotodesign.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/day-four-dangly-gift-tags.html">Gift Wrapping Ideas</a> :: 9. <a href="http://www.hungrygirlporvida.com/blog/2011/12/02/recipe-candy-cane-truffles/">Candy Cane Truffles</a></div>
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All of these Christmas ideas along with hundreds of others can be found over on our <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/hey_bambini/christmas/">Pinterest page</a>. </div>
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Have fun exploring!</div>
Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-23504656339669529392013-11-19T07:00:00.000+11:002013-11-19T07:00:02.026+11:00McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>We heart a guest review, especially from the lovely Mel and her babes. This week they tried and tested out the McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park for the Hey Bambini blog. </em></div>
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As the weather warms up, it’s nice to start thinking about somewhere to take the kids that gets them using up energy in the great outdoors. Parks and playgrounds are great if you just want to get out for a short time or catch up with your Mother’s group and the zoo is always fantastic. But sometimes you want to get out of the city and explore somewhere new. Somewhere with plenty of space for the kids to run around, but also with something for the adults to enjoy too. The <a href="http://www.mcclellandgallery.com/">McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park</a> is just the place.<br />
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We recently discovered this gem on a day when a bit of a road trip was in order.<br />
<br />About an hour out of Melbourne, near Frankston, this gorgeous oasis of gardens, sculptures, gallery and café awaits. The 16 hectare property features about 100 sculptures, spread around the beautiful gardens. Take a picnic and explore the area on a sunny day. Guided tours of the gardens and sculptures are available Wednesday and Thursday at 11am and 2pm with a gold coin donation. For groups, tours can be booked on other days. Maybe a novel catch up for the mother’s group?<br />
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When the weather isn’t so nice, or you want to get out of the sun, there are three indoor galleries with permanent and changing exhibitions. When we visited, the exhibition was on birds and there was a kids area set up with drawing, origami bird making and tracing. Little Miss and the Little Man could easily have spent hours in there. It was only the lure of babycinos and something to eat at the café that convinced them to leave!<br />
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The café overlooks part of the garden and the lake and is a beautiful setting for brunch, morning tea or lunch. The menu is quite limited at breakfast and there isn’t a kids menu as such, but ham and cheese toasted sandwiches, fruit toast, scones or biscuits are likely to go down a treat. At lunch, there is kids lasagne and chips available. For adults, the gourmet salads, baguettes and hot meals sound lovely. The babycinos come layered in a clear glass and the homemade raspberry and lavender jam with the scones was to die for!<br />
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A couple of high chairs are available in the cafe, but there are no changing facilities and no specific activities for the little ones.<br />
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All in all, the <a href="http://www.mcclellandgallery.com/">McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park</a> is a great place to visit when you don’t mind a bit of a drive and want to get out in the fresh air and experience something new. We’ll definitely be back!<br />
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<strong>Where</strong> :: 390 McClelland Drive Langwarrin<br /><strong>Opening Times</strong> :: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm<br /><strong>Entry Fee</strong> :: Donation<br /><strong>Website</strong> :: <a href="http://www.mcclellandgallery.com/">www.mcclellandgallery.com</a><br />
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</em><br />Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-41232071275897803562013-11-12T11:16:00.000+11:002013-11-12T11:18:45.084+11:00There's No Place Like Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well hello gorgeous readers.</div>
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I send out my most sincere apologies for my recent absence. It would seem that l’ve been (in the word of Ned Flanders) a bit of a “neglecterino” of late when it comes to the up-keep of my humble blog.<br />
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It’s not to say l’m not thinking about blogging, l think about it every day! No it’s more of a time factor for me at the moment.<br />
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You see at the start of the year we decided to demolish our quintessential Brunswick town house and replace it with a sparkly new one. <br />
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My last blog post was around September. (Boo Hoo!)<br />
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Since then all my spare time has been thrown into getting the house finished by Christmas. <br />
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Fingers crossed. <br />
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Since September l’ve spent many hours in bed shops, lighting shops, carpet shops, furniture shops AND have spent countless hours online researching ridiculous things like shower curtain rods, brick tuck pointing, how to clean brass, which front loader is the best and functional storage solutions just to name a few.<br />
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I’m REALLY looking forward to moving in and decorating it. But what I’m looking forward to the most is our new home office, which is where I will be able to throw myself back into my passion, which is my blog and of course writing about eating out with my kids.<br />
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We’re still out and about and you can always follow me on <a href="http://instagram.com/hey_bambini">Instagram</a> for all the latest snaps. <br />
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This renovation has also turned me into a <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/hey_bambini/">Pinterest</a> junkie so l’m hanging out over there a lot too.<br />
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Is anyone else out there renovating?<br />
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Would love to hear if you are.<br />
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Stay tuned and we’ll be back soon, l promise!!<br />
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Love Jolie x<br />
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Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-86712330277734903632013-09-24T13:12:00.001+10:002013-10-11T11:30:56.634+11:00Mini Review :: Tuck Shop Take Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>We heart a guest review, especially from the lovely Mel and her babes. This week they tried and tested out Tuck Shop Take Away for the Hey Bambini blog. </em><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TuckShopTakeAway?fref=ts">Tuck Shop Take Away</a> is a tiny little place on the corner of Hawthorn Road and Glen Eira Road. It only seats about 10 people, so you might get a seat if you’re lucky. Better to drop in on a nice day to get take away and go for a walk.<br />
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There are a few kid friendly touches, like a pile of toys by the door and a retro menu with kiddie sized milkshakes, burgers, chips and sweets. Think milko, redskin and nutella milkshakes in old school milk bottles and ‘school lunches’ served on a tray with burger, chips, drink and cake.<br />
It’s all very cute and likely to become a hit with locals who are looking for something different in the café scene.<br />
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I dropped in with the kids just after 11am on a Thursday and we were lucky to grab a spot at the bar overlooking the kitchen. Little Miss and the Little Man were fascinated by the ladies making the burgers, which was great to keep them amused. We quickly ordered our milkshakes and coffee and a donut to share. Little Miss loved her milko flavoured milkshake and the Little Man couldn’t finish his peanut butter one fast enough! Thoughtfully, because we were sitting on the high stools, the staff put the milkshakes in takeaway cups, rather than glass milk bottles, so they didn’t accidentally get broken.<br />
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We didn’t do lunch this time, but when we’re next in the area, I can’t wait to try a burger or one of the jaffles. Creamed corn with caramelised onion or baked beans and cheese, anyone!<br />
There is no toilet or high chairs available and with such a small space, it’s probably best to grab food and drink to go and head to the local park. Well worth a visit though, for some old-school nostalgia!<br />
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<strong>Who ::</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TuckShopTakeAway?fref=ts">Tuck Shop Take Away</a><br />
<strong>Where ::</strong> 273 Hawthorn Road Caulfield North 3161<br />
<strong>Opening times ::</strong> Mon – Thurs 11am to 8pm, Fri/Sat 11am to 9pm, closed Sunday<br />
<strong>Family Friendly Features ::</strong> Mini Milkshakes :: Toys :: Plastic Cups :: One High ChairHey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-34377691079051907102013-09-17T06:00:00.000+10:002014-06-30T20:27:06.320+10:00Road Test :: The Langham Little Mermaid TiffinWell folks here comes another round of school holidays, they always seem to creep up so quickly don’t they! I’m actually in disbelief that we will be going into term 4 in a few short weeks, which means that Christmas is just around the corner. Yikes!<br />
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But enough about how fast the year is flying by, let’s get talking about my latest mini adventure with Mr 4, which just happens to be to <a href="http://melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au/little-mermaid.html">The Langham’s Little Mermaid Tiffin</a>. Avid readers of my humble blog will know we love an adventure into the city. Jumping on busy trams, checking out crazy buskers and peeking into colourful shop windows are what makes an adventure to the city just that little bit more fun and exciting, especially for a 4 year old. We especially heart a cheeky visit to The Langham, what a glamorous place to spend an afternoon! <br />
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We were thrilled to be invited back to The Langham to enjoy a very special afternoon tea and as always The Langham put on a first class show. Service was with a smile and the staff were very attentive to Mr 4’s needs. <br />
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There is definitely no room for calorie counting when you a visit. The 3 tiered serving platters are brimming with decadent cakes, fluffy scones and mini sandwiches, which by the way were devoured within minutes by Mr 4. From a little boy’s point of view he wasn’t at all bothered by the ‘mermaid’ theme, as there were plenty of ‘little boy’ options available for him to eat like King Triton Cupcakes, Flounder Honey Joys, Ocean Jelly Square, Sebastian Cakepop, Ursula Cookie, Star Fish Fairy Bread and Ham Sandwiches. Yep like l said they were all inhaled in record time!<br />
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For us it was a special school holiday treat before all the Christmas bills and craziness comes rolling along.<br />
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<em>*<a href="http://melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au/little-mermaid.html">The Little Mermaid Tiffin</a> is running these school holidays in conjunction with the DVD & Blu-Ray release of the timeless Disney classic with is available from September 11, 2013*</em><br />
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<strong><u>Cost</u></strong><br />
$30 Per Child an extra $15 if you would like the Little Mermaid Book & 3D Model Set<br />
$49 per adult<br />
*Child Rate up to 12 years of age and must be accompanied by a paying adult<br />
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<strong><u>Times and Dates</u></strong><br />
Weekdays from Monday – Friday 23rd September – 11th October<br />
10am-11.30am OR 12 noon – 1.30pm<br />
More Information click<a href="http://melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au/little-mermaid.html"> HERE</a><br />
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<strong><u>Bang for your Buck – What Do You Get!</u></strong><br />
Superior High Tea Service in a Child Friendly Atmosphere<br />
Theme Matched Colouring Sheets – this visit we had Ariel and King Triton.<br />
Themed Children’s Picture Book to Take Home (Optional) <br />
High Chairs on Site<br />
Change Table<br />
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<strong><u>Bambini Tips</u></strong><br />
Close to the <a href="http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/">NGV </a>- South Bank - Transport available are Trams and Trains<br />
Ideal for out of towner’s looking for the ultimate Melbourne foodie experience<br />
Ideal birthday treat for your little man or little missHey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-13091071874934276522013-09-10T06:30:00.000+10:002013-09-10T06:30:01.189+10:00Road Test :: Tasti D LiteThe Bambini babes and l went on another eating out adventure this week. There’s no mistaking it, we heart to get out and about and l never need to convince the kids to try somewhere new, especially if there is a frozen treat or two involved. This week we found ourselves in the shiny new Fresh Food Precinct at Highpoint Shopping Centre. I have a soft spot for Highpoint, well our family fondly calls her “Knifepoint” and many school holidays were spent down in the cinema complex with my dear old dad. We’d often drive down from the country to take in a Hollywood blockbuster while filling our faces with lollies and popcorn. She’s come a long way in the last 20 years or so and with her recent facelift little miss Highpoint is all grown up and now boasts a very modern and polished food precinct which includes many stylish food venues such as <a href="http://tastidlite.com.au/index.php">Tasti D-Lite</a>. <br />
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<br />I’ve never indulged my sweet tooth at <a href="http://tastidlite.com.au/index.php">Tasti D Lite</a> before so l was keen to investigate. It seems to me that frozen treats are now becoming quite the trend with a variety of self-serve stores and stands popping up everywhere like mushrooms. It’s a ‘win win’ in my book – the more the merrier! I know the kids love soft serve anything, whether it be yogurt or ice-cream, so l knew they’d be impressed instantly at <a href="http://tastidlite.com.au/index.php">Tasti D Lite</a>.<br />
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<br />We met Patrick who is the manager down at Highpoint and he was very enthusiastic to share with us what <a href="http://tastidlite.com.au/index.php">Tasti D-Lite</a> has to offer. So what is Tasti D Lite? Basically it’s a light dairy based soft serve treat. It’s not ice-cream and it’s not yogurt. It’s in-between! It’s lower in calories, sugar and fat. And guess what? It comes in over 100 flavours! Yep 100. I get quite overwhelmed when there’s too much choice on offer so l asked Patrick to recommend a flavour for me. The kids had no trouble choosing – ‘bubble gum with sprinkles please’ chimed Mr 4. Once you’ve chosen your flavour from the many on offer then you can dress it up with a variety of toppings from chocolaty treats and mixed lollies to healthy stuff like fruit and nuts.<br />
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<br />The kids loved it, their frozen goodness was served in a small cup which was easy for them to hold and to eat. I had the coconut flavour which was recommended by Patrick, and this was lovely. My only complaint was l wished l had more of it! The kids swooped in rather quickly and inhaled most of my serving, so beware it’s tasty and delish. I wouldn’t hesitate to return, there was a wide variety of flavours for us to choose from which all included the calorie intake of each serve for those watching their weight, which l thought was a good tool for mums wanting to treat themselves to a healthy, yet indulgent treat.<br />
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<br />The other winning feature that l loved was the service. We heart customer service and the staff at <a href="http://tastidlite.com.au/index.php">Tasti D Lite</a> can create a custom dessert master piece, so there’s no fiddling with bulky soft serve machines for busy parents. The hardest decision you’ll have to make is choosing a flavour!<br />
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<br /><strong><u>Fast Facts</u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />Over 80 Gluten Free Flavours<br />More than 100 Flavours to delight you!<br />Lower in calories and sugar compared to ice cream<br />Tasti D-Lite offer a variety of serving sizes in cups and cones<br />Range also includes Shakes, Fresh Fruit Smoothies, Dairy Free Fruit Crushers, Ice Coffee & Sundaes<br />Kids Birthday Cakes Available<br />
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<strong><u>Where To Find</u></strong><br />
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<a href="http://tastidlite.com.au/index.php?option=com_location&location=131&Itemid=201">Highpoint Shopping Centre</a><br />L2 Shop 2706 <br />120-200 Rosamond Rd <br />Maribrynong<br />
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<a href="http://tastidlite.com.au/index.php?option=com_location&location=124&Itemid=201">Chapel St Melbourne</a><br />Shop 5 / 450 Chapel Street<br />South Yarra<br />
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<br /><em>*Sponsored Post :: We were invited by Tasti D Lite to sample some of their sweet treats and eats. All our opinions are our very own, to have and to hold!*</em> Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-63442435172238265332013-09-03T06:30:00.000+10:002013-09-03T06:30:00.367+10:00Mini Master Class :: Kids PizzaA few weeks back l was invited by the <a href="http://www.keepleft.com.au/">Keep Left</a> group to a Pizza Master Class. It was a night filled with pizza making tips from some local chefs, foodie ideas from Woolworths and of course a few glasses of wine courtesy of <a href="http://danmurphys.com.au/dm/home.jsp">Dan Murphy</a>. <br />
<br />After l left l thought to myself that my kids would have had a great time at the master class too. With that thought in mind l decided to hold my own mini master class at home with the boys. I was going to use all the fabulous products we received on the night from the various brands who attended the evening and teach my boys about healthy eating and making food from scratch.<br />
<br />Little did l know after l had set up all the ingredients for the mini master class that the kids were already rather savvy when it comes to making pizza. I started to explain to Mr 4 about the various ingredients on the table and how to construct a pizza. <br />
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He calmly turned to me and said. “Mum l KNOW how to make pizza, Nonno and l make one every Tuesday when he looks after me!”<br />
<br />And with that Mr 4 then started to show ME how to make the perfect pizza.<br />
<br />I can’t believe it never twigged with me that he would’ve known this. Well no need for that master class l thought!<br />
<br />“Mum the sauce goes on first then the cheese then the basil, like this”<br />
<br />Of course he knows – he’s half Italian after all, pizza making is in his blood!<br />
<br />We had a lot fun creating our own pizzas and because the kids were involved in the preparation it made it even more enjoyable for them to eat. I found that all the products we used were tasty, within our family food budget and easily sourced from my local supermarket.<br />
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<br /><strong><em>If your kids would like to have a mini pizza master class at home here’s what you’ll need.</em> </strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.bakersdelight.com.au/">Pizza Bases from Bakers Delight</a> <br /><a href="http://www.bakersdelight.com.au/">Leggos Di Pomodoro Tomato Sauce</a><br /><a href="http://www.perfectitaliano.com.au/">Perfect Italiano :: Pizza Plus Cheese and Ricotta</a><br /><a href="http://www.perfectitaliano.com.au/">Fresh Basil from Woolworths</a><br /><a href="http://www.bertocchi.com.au/">Bertocchi Spanish Serrano Ham</a></div>
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Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-28987729033635787052013-08-27T06:30:00.000+10:002013-08-27T06:30:00.092+10:00Our Ballarat Mini Break Adventure :: Day 3 <em>This is our last post about our Ballarat Adventure. Over the last few weeks I've been <a href="http://heybambini.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/our-ballarat-mini-break-adventure-day.html">sharing</a> with you my recent trip to Ballarat with the Bambini family. We were invited by Ballarat Tourism to experience the region’s most popular attractions and to sample some of the locally produced food that Ballarat has to offer families.</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XdZppDGU4ENeBWFkg9hAv7QNiQiQvyxsxSNNy1aXhBN_79uTZb8v7lkTdLazeVwZQqUohLMjzg9toCdnsLkzIXtEmNMqthiCMrTWoCwdaeyjnjsfQBMorq2JrqKMUu5OWtY_KVIQr3I/s1600/Kryal+Castle+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XdZppDGU4ENeBWFkg9hAv7QNiQiQvyxsxSNNy1aXhBN_79uTZb8v7lkTdLazeVwZQqUohLMjzg9toCdnsLkzIXtEmNMqthiCMrTWoCwdaeyjnjsfQBMorq2JrqKMUu5OWtY_KVIQr3I/s640/Kryal+Castle+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was raining cats and dogs on our last day in Ballarat. This city sure knows how to turn on the weather. “Rain, rain go away” Mr 4 sung all morning as we tucked into our breakfast. The only spot left to visit today was <a href="http://kryalcastle.com.au/">Kryal Castle</a>. I was excited and a little unsure what our experience would be like. The last time l set foot into <a href="http://kryalcastle.com.au/">Kyral Castle</a> was about 12 years ago. Unfortunately l wasn’t there on a medieval adventure, instead l was touching the lasers and having a grand time at a dance party! Back in those days Kryal was more known as a fabulous party venue, not as a “ye olde” theme park. Also the park had become quite run down and really wasn’t a tourist destination.<br />
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Having heard on the grape vine that Kryal had recently undergone a mini makeover l was excited to experience the park through new eyes. The kids were excited as we drove up the cobble stone driveway and looked in amazement, at the large castle, complete with mini bridge and moat. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsShHksUPtePVej-A_ga59B6oSa75P6Dat35NHg33AxrOTyVIEiaiGDVT9sWpMmJnQEiDqocsg_EYW07VsJOCecvWW7ZXXVviqCIzViWWtmAup2u8UZBMnLcbnUSFUE9EQ0RXIW93D6A/s1600/Kryal+Castle+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsShHksUPtePVej-A_ga59B6oSa75P6Dat35NHg33AxrOTyVIEiaiGDVT9sWpMmJnQEiDqocsg_EYW07VsJOCecvWW7ZXXVviqCIzViWWtmAup2u8UZBMnLcbnUSFUE9EQ0RXIW93D6A/s640/Kryal+Castle+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Throwing on all the wet weather gear we could possibly manage we entered the park. The kids had fun exploring the Dragon's Labyrinth, sitting at the Knights Round Table, spending pocket money at the Tooth Fairy Lolly Shop and checking out the Fairies and Goblins Wonderland.<br />
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It was just too wet to explore the Magical Maze and the Ancient Cemetery. We were also disappointed we couldn’t watch one of the daily medieval jousting shows. It was simply too wet.<br />
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Instead we had our face painted, snacked on lollies and briefly ran around the park dodging the heavy rain. On a sunny day l would image <a href="http://kryalcastle.com.au/">Kryal Castle</a> to be a wonderful place to explore. They have an onsite playground for active kids and daily outdoor combat shows. <br />
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I was pleasantly surprised how much work had gone into the renovations and l’m sure they are only going to make more improvements as more people come through the doors. The park was clean, and the kids had a brief encounter of medieval life which has left them curious to experience more. I promised them we would return in the summer school holidays. Fingers crossed the rain will stay away!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHkwOhRhyrWO4kJTYDRPhM7TbUqep0P_2t0KGk-U9KTHvB6y0KsxfR4RkduKbkEaB2XayrDryoQRQbhHBG5XKAAoyvinxmgXk6zcSlGPcBf0OiFuvm3ie9nv2t6TwcD-rSZp5hehdDrQ/s1600/IMG_1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHkwOhRhyrWO4kJTYDRPhM7TbUqep0P_2t0KGk-U9KTHvB6y0KsxfR4RkduKbkEaB2XayrDryoQRQbhHBG5XKAAoyvinxmgXk6zcSlGPcBf0OiFuvm3ie9nv2t6TwcD-rSZp5hehdDrQ/s640/IMG_1904.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>**Kryal Castle has so much to offer families and l would highly recommend it as a day trip - pack a picnic for extra fun. We struck out with the weather on the day we visited so make sure you plan ahead as there is not much shelter when the weather turns. Check your local weather guide before planning your day! Have fun.**</em>Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-82435406501959856702013-08-20T06:30:00.000+10:002013-08-20T06:30:00.162+10:00Playtime Review :: Bounce Inc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn9lRqijYO4pazRvgbi8q4xy-CLWzzpkHdO0HU-2QboDiN7iXaTCCt_FsEwO1Cz3iUpE2Vqm3dgvXcW-aLk_eMtRLxZgwN_NFJCASer0ZPYht4gLHPiRSPxe4oNG7_RmhyphenhyphenDzXhc1oBsg/s1600/bounce-inc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn9lRqijYO4pazRvgbi8q4xy-CLWzzpkHdO0HU-2QboDiN7iXaTCCt_FsEwO1Cz3iUpE2Vqm3dgvXcW-aLk_eMtRLxZgwN_NFJCASer0ZPYht4gLHPiRSPxe4oNG7_RmhyphenhyphenDzXhc1oBsg/s320/bounce-inc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If your kids are anything like mine, then sometimes you need a place for them to use up a bit of energy and have some fun. In winter when the park isn’t the greatest idea, indoor play centres can seem like the only option. But they’re not!</div>
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We recently stumbled across <a href="http://bounceinc.com.au/">Bounce Inc</a> in Glen Iris. This massive warehouse space is filled with trampolines and is a little jumper’s paradise.<br />
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With an entire floor and walls of trampolines, a foam pit to jump in to and dodge ball for the older kids, it’s fun for everyone.<br />
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Little Miss booked in for the Mini Bounce session, which is an hour-long skills session for 3-5 year olds. The instructor took them through safety instructions, stretches and then a whole lot of fun jumping activities. Bouncing like a kangaroo, a star, a motorbike and a rocket were met with squeals of delight!<br />
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Next, jumping along the trampoline into the foam pit and then free jumping and sliding on the walls. Little Miss had a ball!<br />
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For bigger kids, but still under 110cm, there is Junior Jumpers, which is really just free jumping in a separate area. Great, so that the big kids can’t scare the little ones.<br />
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While all the action is going on, Mums and Dads can sit upstairs and watch from the raised café area or stand around the edge of the trampolines on the ‘grass’ to take photos. The café fare is basic, but the coffee is decent and babycinos come with a marshmallow. Always a hit with Little Miss and the Little Man.<br />
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<a href="http://bounceinc.com.au/">Bounce Inc</a> also do kids parties, with different food and jumping options available.<br />
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A new <a href="http://bounceinc.com.au/">Bounce Inc</a> is due to be opened in Blackburn soon, so Eastern suburbs kids can join in the fun. <br />
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We’ve been twice now, and while it’s a little out of the way, it’s a fun way to spend a morning when you need something different to do.<br />
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<br /><strong>Prices:</strong><br />General admission - $16.50 per hour, $10 subsequent (including jumping socks)<br />Mini Bounce (3 to 5 years) - $16 per hour<br />Junior Jumpers (under 110cm) - $11.50 per hour (including socks)<br />Bookings to be made online or via phone <br />
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<strong>Times:</strong><br />Mini Bounce – Mon to Fri 10am to 12pm<br />Junior Jumpers – Mon to Fri 10am to 4pm (school term), 10am to 12pm (school holidays)<br />
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<em>Bounce Inc was reviewed by the lovely Mel, all thoughts and words are her own and she was not invited to visit by the folk from Bounce Inc. She just loved the experience and had to share!</em>Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-42008738838546556932013-08-13T11:49:00.003+10:002013-08-13T11:49:57.795+10:00Interview :: Suzy From JOCO Cups
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<em>Well it’s time again to spark up that interview light. This week we’re chuffed to have the talented Suzy from <a href="http://jococups.com/">JOCO Reusable Cups</a>. Not only does Suzy juggle a busy work load selling her reusable cups to trendy Melbourne cafes, she's also the proud mumma to 3 gorgeous kids who love to dine out in some of Torquay's finest cafes.</em><br />
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<br /><strong>Day Job/Occupation ::</strong> I am Sales Manager for <a href="http://jococups.com/">JOCO Glass Reusable Travel Cups</a>, selling nationally and also around the globe. I also wear a Real Estate agent hat selling luxury beach homes in and around Torquay.<br />
<br /><strong>Kids ::</strong> Otis 6, Sunni 3 and Frankie 9 months old<br />
<br /><strong>Tea or Coffee? :: </strong>Coffee – flat white, no sugar if it’s a good brew. Also partial to a spicy Chai, with a dash of honey and soy.<br />
<br /><strong>Sweet or Savoury for Breakfast ::</strong> Breakfast – what’s that?! I usually have a berry smoothie on the run if I’m lucky! <br />
<br /><strong>How often do you dine out with your little people? :: </strong>Every few weeks if we’re lucky.<br />
<br /><strong>Keeping it local! Where do your family hangout out the most when dining out? ::</strong> <a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=131">Café Moby</a> – which is located in the heart of town across the road from the beach. It was originally a weatherboard beach home, it's now been converted into a café which boasts a huge backyard complete with a fantastic fully enclosed playground. It's a mum’s heaven!<br />
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<a href="http://jococups.com/"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeXNhEr0ed3fZ5dh_ijBjGtVAcF_aavdemg7n7VHIbEb2145lh5iVVSlDTiatfBA_oeylqU6p1E1-FjlyvuBUulCYB8kRxfR0VwEBaZH4it1YoXf49ZWFugGU43i10Y7HMFb0Th7xWRY/s640/jococoffeecups.jpg" width="458" /></a></div>
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<br /><strong>What is the ultimate family friendly feature you love in a kid friendly café? :: </strong> An enclosed yard where I can sit back, read the paper, read emails and enjoy a hot coffee knowing the kids are safe.<br />
<br /><strong>What do your kids love to eat when they go out? :: </strong> We’re lucky enough to have kids with a varied palette, depends on what’s on offer from but anything on the kids menu usually floats their boat. <br />
<br /><strong>Best thing about eating out with kids ::</strong> Having someone else do the cleaning up!<br />
<br /><strong>Worst thing about eating out with kids </strong>:: The emotional breakdown if they’re tired<br />
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<a href="http://jococups.com/"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuR9sAxwWMobjEyGbWhPh7SEswPriaeHGRexVyUX-l6rSx2pc3r-OdLKiDmkW9Mfmnex3SGDXdalhAbC4RjZQs3YcSOtTgk9MiSG7Q_KlwlECPY-7TbHcI56ywuJfFP6OioJQxbtpaMY/s400/12oz-joco-cup_800.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /><strong>Your BEST eating out tips for new parents ::</strong> Always ask for kids drinks in a cup with a lid and a straw to avoid those embarrassing milkshake and babycino spills. A JOCO Reusable cup with lid is a perfect solution for this situation!<br />
<br /><strong>Describe eating out with kids in three words ::</strong> Fun Messy Bribery<br />
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<em>Thanks for sharing a slice of family life Suzy, we’re most jealous your 'local' is opposite the beach! For more info on JOCO Cups and Stockist click <a href="http://jococups.com/">HERE</a>. x</em>Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-23240116775908072442013-07-28T12:54:00.000+10:002013-08-20T13:20:27.676+10:00Our Ballarat Mini Break Adventure :: Day 2<em>Over the next few weeks I’m going to be sharing with you my recent trip to Ballarat with the Bambini family. We were invited by Ballarat Tourism to experience the region’s most popular attractions and to sample some of the locally produced food that Ballarat has to offer families</em><br />
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The best way to start a cold Ballarat day, in my book, is with a warm hearty breakfast. We popped into the <a href="http://www.pancakeparlour.com/locations/ballarat/">Pancake Parlour</a> early Saturday morning with hungry children who were eager to get their hands on some pancakes. I adore the Pancake Parlour, it’s not a place l visit regularly but when we do go we make sure we order a load of pancakes for the table, along with a few large glasses of frothy milkshakes. The Pancake Parlour offers a fantastic kids menu and with dishes like<a href="http://www.pancakeparlour.com/menu/detail/children-s-menu/"> Alice’s Wonderland Surprise</a> and the <a href="http://www.pancakeparlour.com/menu/detail/children-s-menu/">Mad Hatter’s Special</a> it's sure to make any child excited about the most important meal of the day. The kid’s meals also come with colouring sheets and crayons which is an added bonus. I found the service to be warm and friendly and the restaurant has a rustic yet cosy vibe to it. The Pancake Parlour is set over 4 levels so it’s not wise to bring the pram or wait for a last minute toilet dash. They are situated right on the top level as Mr 2 and l discovered. And, be warned, the serving sizes are huge. Not ideal for those who are counting calories!<br />
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After a fulfilling breakfast it was time to throw the kids into the car and head out to the Creswick <a href="http://tangledmaze.com.au/">Tangled Maze</a> which is about a half hour drive from the main town of Ballarat. We were a little disappointed the day we visited the maze as it was raining quite heavily so we didn’t get to take advantage of the beautiful grounds. We did however take a walk around the maze, luckily we’d brought our gumboots as there were lots of puddles to jump in, much to the children’s delight. Also the maze offers an onsite mini golf course for older children and a life size chess board for the thinkers. On a sunny day this would be the perfect spot to hang out for a few hours with the family. <br />
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So what do you do when it’s pouring rain in Ballarat? You go look for a spot to have lunch! After a busy morning the kids were hungry – again, so we popped into <a href="http://www.theforgepizzeria.com.au/">The Forge Pizzeria</a> for a quick and easy meal. I do love visiting country restaurants, there is always an open fire on offer and service is friendly. The kids were especially excited as there was a dedicated kids’ corner for them to amuse themselves. Mr Bambini was also excited as <a href="http://www.theforgepizzeria.com.au/">Forge Pizzeria</a> offer a fantastic gourmet beer list to choose from. The pizzas were amazing, in fact l’d go as far to say they’re the best in Ballarat. The wood fired pizzas are topped with quality local ingredients, there is not a slice of plastic processed ham or chunk of tinned pineapple in sight. Their menu is fresh and has loads of options for all including gluten free and vegetarian. Our personal favourites were the Margheritta pizza topped with fresh stringy bocconcini and the scrumptious Wild Rocket Salad with Wood Fired Pumpkin. It would have been lovely to stay inside all day grazing on food and gourmet beer but the kids need to be entertained. <br />
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The next activity l had planned to do was to swing past the <a href="http://wildlifepark.com.au/">Ballarat Wildlife Park</a>, which is a well-known family run Ballarat attraction. Again we were greeted with rain but we pushed on knowing the kids would get a stack of enjoyment from this visit. We arrived just in time to see a Koala show, complete with a mini cuddle and pat! The boys loved feeding the friendly resident wallaby, peering into the Tassie devil enclosure, chasing emus and checking out the reptile enclosure. l think we went into the enclosure 3 times!. It’s not a huge park but it’s very clean, well-managed and it's an excellent spot to let the kids have a run. I think the wildlife park was the highlight for the boys, that and ice-cream for breakfast at the <a href="http://www.pancakeparlour.com/locations/ballarat/">Pancake Parlour</a>. <br />
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To cap off a busy day we decided to pop up to the lake for a <a href="http://www.btm.org.au/">tram ride</a> and a spot of dinner. The kids enjoyed exploring the <a href="http://www.btm.org.au/">tram museum</a> and l enjoyed learning a bit of history about the Ballarat trams and why they don’t operate around town anymore, daggy but true! We had a ride on the tram which is short 20 minute trip around a small part of <a href="http://www.btm.org.au/">Lake Wendouree</a>. Mr 4 even got to see how a whole vintage tram seat is pulled apart thanks to his clumsy ways. He was so excited about looking out the window of the tram that he dropped his wallet between the seat and the wall of the tram, which had to be removed by our conductor, a friendly local gent and a helpful Japanese tourist. You just can’t take us anywhere! After a few red faces and apologies the Lightening McQueen wallet and its contents of $4.25 were safely retrieved. <br />
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After the tram drama we stopped into <a href="http://boatshed-restaurant.com/menu">The Boat Shed</a> for a well-deserved glass of vino and some eats. The kids selected a few meals from the kids menu while Mr Bambini and l re-hashed the busy day over a few share plates of nibbles. All in all, we had a fabulous day and even though the rain dampened the ground and our coats it didn’t dampen our experience, Ballarat had put on another fantastic day for us and our family.<br />
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<strong><u>Visitor Details</u></strong><br />
<strong><u><br /></u></strong><a href="http://www.pancakeparlour.com/locations/ballarat/">Pancake Parlour</a> - 2 Grenville Street South Ballarat<br />
High Chairs - Kids Menu - Colouring Pages - Crayons<br />
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<a href="http://tangledmaze.com.au/">The Tangled Maze</a> - 2301 Midland Highway Springmount<br />
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<a href="http://www.theforgepizzeria.com.au/">The Forge Pizzeria</a> - 14 Armstrong St Ballarat<br />
High Chairs - Kids Eats - Change Table - Kids Corner - Crayons - Blackboard<br />
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<a href="http://wildlifepark.com.au/">Ballarat Wildlife Park</a> - Corner York & Fussell Streets - Ballarat East <br />
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<a href="http://www.btm.org.au/">Ballarat Tram Museum</a> - Wendouree Parade - Ballarat<br />
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<a href="http://boatshed-restaurant.com/menu">The Boat Shed Restaurant</a> - 27a Lake Wendouree Foreshore Ballarat <br />
High Chairs - Kids Menu <br />
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<em>**We were guests of Ballarat Tourism. This post reflects my experience of Ballarat and this story is my very own, to have and to hold!** </em><br />
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<br />Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-62361882393879585292013-07-16T15:20:00.000+10:002013-07-16T15:20:07.367+10:00Our Ballarat Mini Break Adventure :: Day 1<em>Over the next few weeks I’m going to be sharing with you my recent trip to Ballarat with the Bambini family. We were invited by Ballarat Tourism to experience the region’s most popular attractions and to sample some of the locally produced food that Ballarat has to offer families.</em><br />
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Friday morning saw me pack the car to the brim with coats, gumboots, scarves and woolly hats, 2 excited boys, a snack bag and some tunes. The trip up the Western Highway is a no brainer really and l found that we made good time and reached Ballarat in around 90 minutes. <br />
<br />Our first stop in Ballarat was to fill hungry little tummies at Such N Such café on Sturt St. We’ve been to Such N Such before so it was fun for us to re-visit, especially now that the boys were a little older, they could really appreciate the indoor cubbyhouse. For lunch we had home-made sausage rolls - complete with saucy smiley faces, red lentil soup and of course 3 iced chocolates. I do believe l had about ten full minutes of absolute silence to enjoy while the boys inhaled their chocolaty beverage.<br />
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<br />Such N Such serve up home-made locally sourced eats from soups, baguettes, pies and quiches. If you’re not up for a meal then they can certainly help you out with a hot coffee and a slice of cake. Such N Such is definitely a country café with a twist. The café also boasts a wonderful home wares store and shoppers could potentially find a ‘little piece’ for each room of the house, even the kids! I was desperate to have a good poke around but I’m afraid the boys wouldn’t sit still long enough for this mama to do some damage on the credit card. Next time! The staff are brimming with good old fashioned friendly service, and with a warm fire to sit by and good wholesome eats Such N Such is a must visit in my book. You can also see our <a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=45">previous review</a> here from 2009.<br />
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<br />Next stop on our booked itinerary was an afternoon at<a href="http://sovereignhill.com.au/"> Sovereign Hill</a>. The kids were very excited to run up the main stairs to collect our tickets. The first stop was to check into the Hope Bakery to decorate Gingerbread Men (forever the foodie family eh!) At $4 per child we thought this was a fun activity for the boys, especially Mr 4. Kids get a small tub of coloured icing and a small tub of sprinkles, then it’s up to them to create the ultimate Gingerbread Man. The boys loved it, although l don’t think Mr Bambini was too thrilled about carrying them around for the next 20 minutes while the icing set! <br />
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<br />Other spots we visited at<a href="http://sovereignhill.com.au/"> Sovereign Hill</a> were the Sweet Shop, Tinsmith, Grocer, Candle Shop and of course we threw a few balls down the bowling alley. The boys were probably still a bit young for this but they still had fun throwing the heavy ball down the lane. Although l think Mr 2.5 had more fun skidding in the gravel and the brown dirt streets of Sovereign Hill. Mental note to self – don’t dress the kids in the ‘good clothes’ when we next visit! <br />
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And of course no visit is complete without popping down to the creek to pan for gold. Mr Bambini and Mr 4 had a fun time doing this together until Mr 4 fell in the creek. Again mental note to self – don’t dress the kids in the ‘good clothes’ when we re-visit! I’m sure he is not the first or the last kid to do this. On the upside we found some GOLD, after that we had to leave as Mr 4 was a tad wet.<br />
<br />We did however return in the evening with the children to experience the Blood on the Southern Cross sound and light show. We rugged the kids up and re-entered the park and headed to New York bakery for our dinner. It was quite eerie being back in the main street - there wasn’t a single person to be seen, where only a few hours before it had been jammed packed with tourists. I liked the fact that we came back after dark with the shop’s windows dimly lit and not a sound to be heard. <br />
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<br />Dinner at Sovereign Hill was a rustic set menu in a dimly lit kitchen hall which by the way was filled with families. The kid’s meal consisted of a chicken schnitzel and vegies, which was gobbled up in record time and the adult’s dishes were much the same – meat and three veg with gravy! So country. They also offered us a complimentary drink on arrival, as well as a sweet treat from the dessert bar. Dinner for us was simple and fun, the kids enjoyed the ye-oldie atmosphere and we enjoyed a cheeky wine before the show.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even in ye-oldie times folks needed a coffee!</td></tr>
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Now let’s talk about the show. The Blood on the Southern Cross show was an amazing light and sound experience set under the stars within the grounds of Sovereign Hill. Make sure you wear warm clothes as you travel around the park to various locations to take in stages of the show. The show is based on the dramatic 1854 Eureka rebellion between the gold miners and the government. There is loads of gun fire, lighting effects, incredible sounds of daily life from that era and loud scenes of shouting men and a building gets burnt to the ground. Mr Bambini and l really enjoyed it and we were quite impressed on the quality of the show and the special effects. I only wish the kids had stayed awake to enjoy it!<br />
<br />Stay tuned! More Ballarat adventures are heading your way......<br />
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<strong><u>Visitor Details</u></strong><br />
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<a href="http://suchnsuch.com.au/">Such N Such Café :: 809-811 Sturt St Ballarat</a><br />High Chairs :: Change Table :: Kids Indoor Cubbyhouse :: Toys :: Kids Eats<br />
<a href="http://sovereignhill.com.au/">Sovereign Hill :: Bradshaw St Ballarat</a><br />Open Daily :: Change Table :: Kids Eats & Activities<br />
<br /><em>*Please note cameras we not permitted before and during The Blood on the Southern Cross that is why we don't have pictures*</em><br />
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<em>**We were guests of Ballarat Tourism. This post reflects my experience of Ballarat and this story is my very own, to have and to hold!** </em><br />
Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-81590951152470645092013-07-02T14:18:00.000+10:002013-07-02T14:18:45.927+10:00Soup Wars! My Chickpea and Chorizo Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is always a fresh pot of homemade vegetable soup bubbling on my stove in winter, much to the disgust of Mr Bambini. He hates soup. Hates it! He always gets this withering look of disappointment when l announce the nightly dinner, especially if the word ‘soup’ comes out of my mouth. He says it doesn’t fill him up, he says he needs meat. I say he needs to lose a few kilos and a night of vegie soup won’t hurt him. <br />
<br />But we have come to an agreement, and we’ve united my love of soup with his love of having meat in every meal. Let me introduce to you the Chickpea and Chorizo Soup, where vegie soup and meat become best friends. Yep it was smiles all round when l served this little number last week, even the kids demolished their helping. So if you have the same problem at your place with ‘soup vs. meat’ war then you best be printing this baby off. <br />
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<strong><u>Chickpea and Chorizo Soup</u></strong><br />Serves 4 <br />Prep and Cook Time 30 Minutes <br />Cooking Difficulty – SIMPLE!<br />
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Pinch of saffron threads<br />1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil<br />2 (340g) chorizo sausages, chopped coarsely<br />1 large brown onion, diced<br />2 (200g) trimmed celery stalks, diced<br />2 cloves garlic, chopped finely<br />400g can chopped tomatoes<br />400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed<br />
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1. Combine saffron and 1 cup (250ml) boiling water in a small bowl. Stand until needed.<br />
<br />2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat; add chorizo. Cook, stirring until brown. Remove the chorizo with a slotted spoon; set aside. Add the onion, celery and garlic to the pan; cook, stirring, until the onion softens. Add the saffron water, undrained tomatoes and stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, partially covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in chickpeas.<br />
<br />3. Remove two cups of soup and puree in a blender or food processor. Return to soup along with chorizo. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.<br />
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<em>*Best served with a loaf of crusty bread. And may l just say – it’s YUM and oh so easy to make! *</em>Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-85676121091822625422013-06-26T07:00:00.000+10:002013-06-26T07:00:03.678+10:00Interview :: Mel from Hey BambiniThis week I’m thrilled to shine the interview spotlight on one of our guest reviewers Mel.<br />
Mel has been reviewing kid friendly cafes and restaurants for Hey Bambini just on two years now.<br />
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Oh how the time flies eh! <br />
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So we got to thinking a few weeks back that everyone gets to read her candid reviews and see her happy snaps, it’s high time readers get to find out just a little bit more about her and her beautiful café loving kids<br />
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<strong>Day Job/Occupation</strong>: Physiotherapist and serial cafe-goer, helping to write reviews for Hey Bambini<br />
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<strong>Kids :: </strong>Ella 4 years and Angus 2 years<br />
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<strong>Tea or Coffee? :: </strong>At a cafe, skinny flat white, at home T2 tea. Number per day depends on how bad the day (or night) has been!<br />
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<strong>Sweet or Savoury for Breakfast? :: </strong>I love the idea of a sweet breakfast, but can only do the savoury, eggy option. Runny poached eggs with smoked salmon and avocado is my ultimate breakfast. Maybe with a cheeky glass of bubbles too!<br />
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<strong>How often do you dine out with your little people? ::</strong> I probably take the kids out twice a week for brunch or early lunch and sometimes we'll do the weekend breakfast with my husband. We also try to do an early family dinner about once a month, but somehow we just seem to run out of time.<br />
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<strong>Keeping it local! Where do your family hangout out the most when dining out? ::</strong> We love going to <a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=160" target="_blank">Maxii Moo in Brunswick</a>. The staff are really friendly and love kids and the kids corner is amazing! There are plenty of toys, books and cartoons to keep the little ones amused and I can have a coffee, breakfast AND read the paper without being disturbed. Well, not too much! As a bonus, there's a park across the road if the weather is nice and the little ones need to burn off some energy.<br />
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<strong>What is the ultimate family friendly feature you love in a kid friendly café? :: </strong>Definitely a play area or corner with toys, books, pencils and paper to keep the kids amused for more than five minutes. As the kids are getting older, this is getting much easier. Angus still doesn't understand the concept of 'mummy time'!<br />
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<strong>What do your kids love to eat when they go out?::</strong> Ella and Angus both love Babycinos with a marshmallow, and will more or less eat anything! Cheese and vegemite toast, pancakes, eggs, chips, biscuits, muffins..... <br />
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<strong>Best thing about eating out with kids? ::</strong> It teaches the kids valuable social skills, but best of all it gets me out of the house, enjoying good coffee and staying sane! It also shares my passion for food with the kids.<br />
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<strong>Worst thing about eating out with</strong> <strong>kids? ::</strong>The mess and them 'cracking it' mid meal.<br />
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<strong>Your BEST eating out tips for new parents ::</strong> Don't be afraid to take the kids to cafes from a young age to get them used to the idea of being out in public. Ella was a week old on our first venture out. Be prepared - take wipes, books, toys etc to keep the little ones amused, especially if you're not sure if the cafe is kid friendly. Don't plan to spend too long in one place. Chances are you'll only fit in a quick coffee before they have had enough.<br />
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<strong>Describe eating out with kids in three words ::</strong> Fun, challenging, messy!<br />
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<em>Big thanks to Mel for sharing with us a slice of her café hoping life with the kidlets. I certainly like the sound of a glass of bubbles for breakfast! You can find more of Mel’s kid friendly reviews over <a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/index.asp">HERE.</a> Enjoy!</em>Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-58165331006288664102013-06-21T10:19:00.000+10:002014-06-30T20:29:50.557+10:00Disney Peter Pan Afternoon Tea This week Mr 4 and l had the pleasure of attending the Disney Peter Pan Children’s Afternoon Tea which was hosted by the lovely folk from <a href="http://melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au/" target="_blank">The Langham Hotel</a>. <br />
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In a word <a href="http://melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au/" target="_blank">The Langham Hotel</a> is very glamorous. Ornate chandeliers hang from the ceiling, marble adorns the walls and no 5 star hotel is complete without a few bubbling indoor fountains. Yep told you it was glamorous.<br />
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The afternoon tea was held upstairs in the ARIA bar and their attention to detail at The Langham is <br />
first class. We were greeted by warm and attentive staff who showed us to our table then took our beverage orders and asked if we had any dietary requirements. Also waiting on our table was some colouring sheets and pencils for Mr 4, he was in heaven. It was the perfect distraction while we waited for his afternoon tea, which may l say arrived promptly. <br />
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On our three tiered plate was a Tinkerbell Fairy Cake, Pirate Cookie, Crocodile Jelly Cup, Pixie Sherbet Stick, Wafer Teepee, Clock Biscuit, Fairy Bread, Ham and Cheese Sandwiches and fluffy scones, which was all washed down with a Pirate Punch. <br />
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Wow! <br />
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Mr 4’s eyes lit up and he proceeded to consume all the decadent delights in front of him. I think he mentioned several times that afternoon that “l’m an eating machine” well he certainly lived up to that self-proclaimed statement! And if the food wasn’t enough to impress Mr 4, he also received an audio Peter Pan Book to take home. It was smiles all round.<br />
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For the mamma’s and the papas they are served a similar stylish three tiered stand which consists of an assortment of finger sandwiches, fluffy scones and a luxurious assortments of sweets treats and tarts. I was also in foodie heaven.<br />
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It really was a delightful way to spend an afternoon with my little man, in fact l would go as far to say we had a magical time. We love Disney and the Langham folks have come up with such a wonderful concept of combining high class afternoon tea with the Disney theme while throwing into the mix a few kid friendly touches. You’re kicking goals in my book Langham folk, because sometimes you just want to “feel a little bit special” and sip on tea and nibble on ribbon sandwiches with your little peeps.<br />
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So if you’re looking for the ultimate child friendly school holiday treat in Melbourne then look no further than the stunning Langham Hotel. Your little Tinkerbell or tiny Mr Smee will be most impressed indeed.<br />
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<strong><u>Cost</u>$30 Per Child add an extra $15 if you would like the Peter Pan picture book</strong><strong><br />$49 per adult</strong><strong><br />*Child Rate up to 12 years of age*<br /><br />Weekdays from Monday 1st July – Friday 19th July<br />10am-11.30am OR 12 noon – 1.30pm<br />More Information click <a href="http://www.melbarestaurant.com.au/index.php/aria/peter-pan" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong><br />
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<strong><u>Bang for your Buck – What Do You Get!</u></strong><br />
Superior High Tea Service in a Child Friendly Atmosphere<br />
Theme Matched Colouring Sheets – this visit we had Tinkerbell and Peter Pan.<br />
Themed Children’s Picture Book to Take Home (Optional)<br />
High Chairs on Site<br />
Change Table<br />
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<strong><u>Bambini Tips</u></strong><br />
Close to the NGV - South Bank - Transport available are Trams and Trains<br />
Ideal for out of towner’s looking for the ultimate Melbourne foodie experience<br />
Ideal birthday treat for your little man or little miss<br />
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Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-60938474057198578202013-06-18T12:26:00.001+10:002013-06-18T12:26:22.213+10:00Melbourne’s Best Pizza Restaurants for Families<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk47PwqdWp5D0GadeFlR4OjXkHSdYjb13rCVj4-gNGNCRvcl7_kgzsGgIMPB-3qxtyQpKqX9lSFtCHXy_etPHajjp5KjbH-rVugZU25VLPoBU8V9skzwb-kxpQil1rrJvZ7jSNjDMet2U/s1600/Pizza+Label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk47PwqdWp5D0GadeFlR4OjXkHSdYjb13rCVj4-gNGNCRvcl7_kgzsGgIMPB-3qxtyQpKqX9lSFtCHXy_etPHajjp5KjbH-rVugZU25VLPoBU8V9skzwb-kxpQil1rrJvZ7jSNjDMet2U/s400/Pizza+Label.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/hey_bambini/" target="_blank">{Image}</a></td></tr>
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An ideal early dinner for the 'Hey Bambini' bubba’s is pizza followed by ice-cream. Mr Bambini loves to snack on the antipasto plate while l like to throw back a few vino’s after a long day of crafting, visits to the park, washing dishes, cutting fruit, reading books and scrubbing dried Weet Bix from the floors - now that’s a fun job!<br />
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So to make everyone’s life a little easier when Friday night rolls around here is our cracking list of Melbourne’s BEST pizza joints that cater for families, because nobody says NO to Pizza.<br />
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Buon appetito!<br />
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<a href="http://www.lacannella.com.au/" target="_blank"><b>La Cannella – Kensington</b></a><br />
High Chairs – Pizza Dough for Kids to Play With - Plastic Cups<br />
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<a href="http://www.mrwolf.com.au/index.php/category/kids-at-mr-wolf/" target="_blank"><b>Mr Wolf – St Kilda</b></a><br />
High Chairs – Colouring Sheets – Kids pizza and an ice cream sundae for just $10 - Open at 5pm :: <a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=65" target="_blank">See Our Detailed Review</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.jimmijamz.com/" target="_blank"><b>Jimmy Janz – Brunswick East – Elwood</b></a><br />
High Chairs – Change Table – Early Dinner Time 5pm<br />
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<a href="http://www.casafarro.com.au/#" target="_blank"><b>Casa Farro - Fitzroy</b></a><br />
High Chairs – Change Table – Early Dinner Time 5pm - Gluten Free Options<br />
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<a href="http://www.lasvolta.com.au/" target="_blank"><b>La Svolta – Hampton & Prahran</b></a><br />
High Chairs – Crayons – Kids Menu<br />
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<a href="http://www.curiousgoose.com.au/#!the_breads/c21kz" target="_blank"><b>Hava Gander – Brunswick</b></a><br />
High Chairs - Change Table - Colouring Pages – Early Dinner Times - Gluten Free Options - $10 Pizza's <a href="http://www.heybambini.com.au/Cafe-Review-next.asp?id=175" target="_blank">See Our Detailed Review</a><br />
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<a href="http://ladro.com.au/index.php/junio/" target="_blank"><b>Ladro :: Prahran – Fitzroy</b></a><br />
Kids Menu – Kids Cooking Classes – High Chairs - Kids Parties<br />
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<a href="http://www.firechiefpizzeria.com.au/" target="_blank"><b>Fire Chief – Hawthorn East</b></a><br />
High Chairs – Change Table – Early Dinner Time 5pm<br />
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<a href="http://pizzareligion.com.au/contact/" target="_blank"><b>Pizza Religion – Hawthorn </b></a><br />
High Chairs – Kids Pizza – Kids Ice Cream with Freddo’s – Pizza Dough for Kids to Play With – Heated Courtyard – Also can cater / host kids parties from 4pm Daily – Booking Essential when bringing a Pram or needing a High Chair.<br />
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Did we miss your favourite? Well best you add them in the comments so we can check them out too.<br />
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Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-89755292327443848322013-06-12T10:56:00.000+10:002013-06-12T10:56:24.846+10:00Road Test :: Café Kit by MicadorRestaurant outings and café adventures are pretty much classed as normal activities for our kids. They are slotted into our weekly routine like going to kindergarten or attending our Sunday swimming lessons. It’s safe to say they are exposed to a range of foods and restaurant environments. Why just on the weekend we had Japanese for dinner, then Chinese for lunch, then the following day out for coffees and cake. That’s an exceptionally good weekend for us – not great on the bank account or the waistline, but stupendous for me on the cooking front and the kids get to sample some new flavours to try and love.<br />
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The only thing that is getting a little tired on the dining front is how we entertain the kids while we eat. You see the kids demolish any meal in about 5 minutes flat – Mr 2 who has affectionately become known as Conan the destroyer, can polish off 2 spring rolls and 2 dumplings within minutes. No bad for a pint size soul hey, thus leaving him and Mr 4 about 20-30 minutes of free time to get easily bored and play havoc with the waiting staff. <br />
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Not fun. <br />
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But can l tell what was fun this week when we went out? Our colourful café kit which was designed especially for the Hey Bambini babes and sent to us by the lovely folk over at <a href="http://micador.com.au/default.aspx" target="_blank">Micador</a>. It was the perfect solution to ease those boredom blues while hubby and l got to finish our meals. Mr 4 was thrilled to road test the new café kit – Conan however not so much, lucky for me l’d packed some cars.<br />
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The kit was made up of various items such as the <a href="http://micador.com.au/Product/1179/Besties-Washable-Marker-Mates-Super-Sets" target="_blank">Pet House Bestie Markers</a>, <a href="http://micador.com.au/Product/384/Micador-Crayon-Kids" target="_blank">Crayon Kids Finger Puppets</a>, a <a href="http://micador.com.au/Product/425/early-stART-Triangle-Pencil-Purse-Pack" target="_blank">Triangle Pencil Purse pack</a>, a sharpener, <a href="http://micador.com.au/Product/435/early-stART-Purse-Scribble-Pad" target="_blank">Purse Scribble Pads</a> and of course a colourful pencil case to carry it all. I did mention that Mr 4 was thrilled to bits to give a test run didn’t l. It’s been attached to the hip ever since l got it out of the delivery box.<br />
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The Pet House Besties are his favourite. They are colourful animal figurines and when you pull them apart there is a felt marker inside, which is perfect for drawing beautiful pictures of mummy. ‘Gush.’<br />
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I found the <a href="http://micador.com.au/default.aspx" target="_blank">Micador</a> range sent to me was superbly well designed for little hands to grip , offered a great colour selection and of course the products are all non-toxic, which was a relief as Mr 2 thought he wanted to eat a <a href="http://micador.com.au/Product/384/Micador-Crayon-Kids" target="_blank">Crayon Kid Finger Puppet</a> for dessert. He said it tasted yuck. Just as well, because they are for creating not eating, Conan.<br />
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My favourite part about the products is that they were light weight and the kids found them easy and fun to use. The café kit was also easy to carry and is now permanently packed inside our outing bag, when Mr 4 isn’t carrying it around the house from room to room.<br />
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I would totally recommend these products to any family who are regulars to the dining out circuit. Mr 4 also gives them a big thumbs up too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTtlnacB6TPbJ43TyvmVwJrKRkuHyUFediT5NWqWKt-0lBJGp4JqBWkLTxmidyGAWdsRbPQmkJOpwITdmsXHaPAoRiLRrDhe_Sz08ChC4JYLCc7vLRMDoW07mtw6gVYgT8sZaP6CFR8k/s1600/Micador+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTtlnacB6TPbJ43TyvmVwJrKRkuHyUFediT5NWqWKt-0lBJGp4JqBWkLTxmidyGAWdsRbPQmkJOpwITdmsXHaPAoRiLRrDhe_Sz08ChC4JYLCc7vLRMDoW07mtw6gVYgT8sZaP6CFR8k/s640/Micador+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Fast Facts About Our Micador Café Kit</u></strong><br />
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You can build and design your own kit café right <a href="http://micador.com.au/products.aspx?filter=usersname--Kids" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
Excellent <a href="http://micador.com.au/products.aspx?filter=usersname--Kids" target="_blank">Product</a> Range on offer which is suitable for all ages.<br />
Suitable for all developmental stages<br />
Easy to use –Easy to carry around – Easy to wash off clothes</div>
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<em>Are you wanting to get your hands on one of these cafes kits? Well you’ve scrolled down to the right place. We’re giving away a Café Kit to one lucky reader. To enter leave a comment below. All you have to do is tell us what your kids love to eat when you take them out. Simples!</em> Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635472269435436866.post-82992665058965206152013-06-06T11:03:00.000+10:002013-06-06T11:11:05.241+10:00Our Winter Bucket ListThe kids and l have come with a few activities we would like to do this winter and with school holidays coming up l think we’ll need a little inspiration to fill in our days. I originally saw the idea of a 'Winter Bucket List' on <a href="http://pinterest.com/hey_bambini/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and thought it looked like a bit of fun. <br />
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Will you be doing a bucket list for winter?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/hey_bambini/" target="_blank">{Image}</a></td></tr>
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Toast Marshmallows by an open fire</div>
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Help Grandpa collect fire wood</div>
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Visit the National Art Gallery on a rainy day</div>
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Make an indoor cubbyhouse</div>
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Watch a family movie with fresh popcorn</div>
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Pack the car and take a trip to the country side with Mum and Dad</div>
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Help Mum make Shepherd’s Pie</div>
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Go to a footy match with Dad</div>
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Bake Cookies</div>
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Have an inside picnic</div>
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Visit an indoor play-centre</div>
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Have lunch in a country pub with an open fire</div>
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Drink hot chocolate at a kid friendly café</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/hey_bambini/" target="_blank">{Image}</a></td></tr>
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Hey Bambinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055435523550637429noreply@blogger.com0