I took my two kids (6 and 8) to participate in a 2-session Happiness and Resilience workshop with Jo. Right off the bat, Jo put the kids at ease by explaining in really simple terms who she was, what she does and why we were there. Prior to getting together, Jo and I had spoken so that she might get a better understanding of who the kids are, their interests and likes, and areas for growth.

Over the course of the 2 sessions, Jo examined lots of little ideas within the larger picture, drawing in areas of interest to make it relevant and meaningful for my kids. It was all pitched perfectly at the kids level of understanding and emotional development. The kids were provided with many opportunities to contribute to the conversation and Jo listened in a way that they felt heard, understood and appreciated.

Each session was quite informal and flowed easily. The kids used lots of paper and coloured textas to express themselves using images and words. My favourite parts (I didn't participate so much as observe) were the visual exercises Jo did with the kids... there were so many fantastic Aha! moments, I loved seeing the pieces clicking into place for them.

Perhaps just as importantly, the time we spent with Jo gave me a fresher approach on ways to engage with my kids. We have new words in our vocab to express our ideas and expectations, to give one another encouragement and to remind one another how loved/capable/unique we are. I would recommend Jo's services wholeheartedly!

We recently tried the ice cream at The Original Fix and were quite happy to pay $5 each for 4 single scoop cones. The selection looked delicious and there were 25-odd flavours to choose from.

I have to say though that the price seemed a bit steep for the miserly golf ball-sized scoop we each received. Having said that, I wouldn't have minded the size if the flavours were a bit more natural and punchy... all in all a bit ho hum. We tried the raspberry, choc mint, coconut and a decidedly kiddy flavour like bubble gum or rainbow (so no judgement there).

Wild Rye's isn't your run of the mill bakery. Everything looks so amazingly appetising... from the home made pies and pasties to the cakes, slices and artisan breads. And gorgeously friendly staff are the icing on the cake.

We couldn't go past the turkish rounds (twice) which are so unbelievably delicious and a perfect match with a roast chook (from the IGA on the same street) to fill hungry tummies. Pies were also a huge hit for a fast bite after a hard day spent trawling the rock pools and lazing about at the beach! The coffee is roasted on site, well made and delicious.

There are tables inside and out (lovely on a sunny morning).

We loved Wild Rye's! It would be a regular haunt of ours if we were local but as we're not, we'll look forward to our next trip to Pambula even more now. Definitely worth the short drive from Merimbula if you're after quality baked breads, pastries and great coffee!

Aiden did a great job 'tidying up' our matted 8 month old labradoodle today at Bubble Bark Avenue. He made a lot of time for us and took care to understand exactly what our expectations were.

Our service took only about 90 minutes and included flea wash, shampoo and condition, tooth brush, ear clean, nail clip, blow dry and clip around her face, bottom, feet, ears and a really good brush to remove her matted puppy coat. She smells gorgeous and looks and feels SO CLEAN!

You can also buy Australian made dog treats, the same shampoo and conditioner range that was used today and a range of puppy fashion and accessories (mostly for smaller dogs).

Aiden explained everything clearly and not only has a lot of grooming skill but also seems to really love dogs. I only have one previous experience with a groomer to compare to, however we have found our groomer! I'd happily recommend Bubble Bark Ave to anyone looking for a great groomer in the area.

Approximate cost: $48

I visited Chesterfield Farm with my 5 year old over the Christmas break. She had already been earlier in the year with her class so wanted to show me around. To be honest it was a hot day and I wasn't that keen. Happy to say however we had so much fun!

We watched the working dog show, saw a sheep being shorn, took a tractor ride around the farm, visited the market garden, patted as many animals as we could, collected feathers of every size and shape and of course wandered around the animal enclosures.

There were lots of shaded tables also so could easily have taken a picnic of our own but we made do with an ice cream from the Cafe.

A really nice day out!

I was amazed at how much my daughter recalled about her school visit also so from that perspective it was obviously a great learning experience for small children.

I recently dined in at Kalimera with partner and 2 kids aged 8 and 5, after a (Greek) friend raved about their souvlaki. We arrived shortly after 6pm on one of those stinking hot Melbourne nights and *just* beat the early dinner rush. The restaurant had the vibe of a big, happy Greek family eating together - everyone seemed to know someone else. We ordered 2 platters, one pork and one chicken, both $16 each. Each platter promised souvlaki meat, bread, dip/sauce and salad... perfect for sharing.
First the good: all the food (especially the pork) was delicious, the bread was fluffy and hot and we were surprised to find chips hidden under the meat (these were not mentioned when I asked what was included on the platters) so the kids were stoked. The homemade sauce and dips were similarly packed with yummy goodness. Everything was clearly very fresh and the serves were a reasonably sized for the price and quality and just enough for the 4 of us.
And the things I think they could improve on? While there were staff on the floor when we walked in, no-one acknowledged us... we bustled to the only free table in the place once we worked out no-one was going to. The music added to the atmosphere but was loud... really loud especially as we were under a speaker. The tables are huge re-purposed cable spindles and look really cool but teamed with the chairs aren't very comfortable esp for kids. OK if you plan to dash in and out for a quick meal though. The chicken was yummy but there was a lot of floppy skin amongst the meat. The 'salad' on the platters consisted of onion on one and on the other tomato slices and onion... not the salads you'll see beside where you order so that was a bit disappointing.
All in all great for a quick bite but could be a great spot with a few tweaks and a little more love from the staff.

Approximate cost: $16 or $8 per souvlaki

I contacted Drytron Box Hill & Oakleigh to freshen up my carpeted bedrooms as well as one floor rug after reading their reviews on WOMO. Darren has just completed the work and done an excellent job. Not only did he arrive on time and introduce himself (his name and the business - not much to ask really but it sometimes doesn't happen) he was really friendly and has done an awesome job on the carpets. And with a new puppy (happily now toilet-trained) in the house, it was great to know the carpets were deodorized and sanitised included as part of the clean. In fact, I'm not sure the rug was even this clean when we brought it home from the shop! I wouldn't hesitate to use and recommend Drytron Box Hill and Oakleigh (and Darren) again.

Approximate cost: $100

Having little to no experience with Vets I chose East Bentleigh Animal Care after reading the reviews on WOMO. I wasn't disappointed. Dr Singh was lovely and made myself, kids and most importantly, our new puppy feel very welcome - as did the other staff we met last weekend. Everything was explained quite simply and our many questions were patiently answered.

The surgery itself is very simple and as it's quite small, there was no waiting around or overwhelming waiting area. One of the big pluses for us was that there is also an onsite groomer and puppy school (which we try out this weekend coming).

Can't say how impressed I was that I received a follow up call a couple of days after our appointment to see how our puppy had responded to her vaccinations. Not even my GP does this! Really happy with our decision to try this vet!

We stumbled into the Emerald Village Bakery this weekend looking for a quick bite before catching Puffing Billy from Emerald back down to Belgrave. What a find!

There was one display of fabulous baked goods after another, something to keep the kids and adults happy. We sampled the hot pizza, awesome toasted sandwich (with ham, cheese and other delicious veggie goodness), hot spinach and ricotta roll, pizza roll, muffins and other sweet delights. Everything was fresh and yummy. Four of us had lunch and something sweet to takeaway for $25 (not inc coffee) which given the quality was really reasonable. The girls serving were really friendly and efficient despite being very busy.

The one let down was the wait for a takeaway coffee... can't recall the last time I waited at least 8 minutes for a takeaway coffee, good thing it was a great coffee!

Will definitely be dropping in again next time we're in the area!

I contacted the Ace of Shades to quote and install block out blinds on the north and west faces of my period home. Right from the start it was an amazingly smooth process. The man arrived on time to quote the job, was really friendly and while they weren't the cheapest - they were also not the most expensive - I was given some really helpful advice and a few tricky windows were dealt with easily. The blinds were made and installed according to schedule a look great. In fact 2 other people (including family) have used them based on my great experience. The blinds have dramatically reduced the impact of hot weather on the interior of the house and today look as good as when they were installed. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend them again... and again!