Mum convinced me to do playboy

You know what? I was actually the opposite. I went to a pretty fancy school and was expected to get good marks and when I got those marks I was encouraged to go to law school. Boo hoo you say and you'd be right I had a pretty charmed existence, thing is I never used that law degree other than to give my friends outdated advice (don't take legal advice from me, I hardly read the text books promise). I did it because that's what I was pretty much told to do ender Pamela Anderson, her mum's advice? She moved to LA to pursue 'modelling' and when she was offered Playboy she thought 'No', but her mum's advice 'Yes'?! She then goes on to say blah blah "Playboy was my university" Blah Blah "Hef was a real pioneer" Blah Blah  "he really empowered women" 

ANYYYYWAY my advice is careful of your advice to your kids, let them forge their own paths, as long as they're not the wrong paths of course, what? I'm contradicting myself LOL. 

NHM   x

Technology and Kids...

When I was pregnant with baby number 1, I swore I would never ever let my child watch the TV or play on an iPad or other such screen. When he was born I did actually manage to hold out for over a year, winning! That baby is now 6 and also probably the least interested in technology. Grace and William (4 and 2) on the other hand were raised completely different, I call it my 'make-do' era. Hence, the picture attached which demonstrates exactly what they're doing as I write this! We try to go out and do at least one activity or playdate a day but there is also plenty of downtime where I am trying to work or do housework and I desperately need some time out from making snacks in the kitchen, so to the screen they go! 

So what about when you go out for dinner with the kids? If you're unlucky enough to be somewhere that doesn't have a kids play area and paper and pencils just aren't cutting it, out comes my phone. Yes, I don't deny that. Sometimes saving my sanity is just a necessity! 

When siblings first meet

Overnight we saw beautiful pictures of George and Charlotte heading into the hospital to visit their new baby brother. I think I was more blown away at how well behaved they both were! It made us think about how special that moment is when children meet their new little baby brothers or sisters. I remember when my youngest was born and Matthew who was 3 and Grace who was 1 came in to visit. It was truly beautiful. Looking back they had no idea how much their lives were going to change but at that moment everyone was excited to be meeting for the first time. 

Congratulations to William and Kate! 

xx

Newcastle Parking Woes

Being relatively new to Newcastle, I'm a massive fan. We are getting more and more amazing restaurants and cafes, cool little pop up bars and better shops, all set at the backdrop of some of the most beautiful beaches. And some of the things the city is doing are incredibly smart and forward thinking... except the parking. Sarge and I were in Honeysuckle this afternoon visiting the Little Unicorn Childcare Centre. Expecting to park at that carpark on the water, opposite the centre, we were met with barricades and a whole heap of construction. Being a mum in the burbs I'd had no idea that more than 250 carparks were removed only earlier this month from the area. What a debacle! Has this impacted you?

Bachelor in Paradise SPOILER ALERT

OMG Apparently Sam Cochrane 'proposes to Tara Pavlovic' in the grand finale episode, with a '$2,000 ring'! 

They said the big I LOVE YOU last night. Apparently Sam bends down on one knee, presenting Tara, 27, with a '$2,000 cushion-cut halo ring from GS Diamonds'.

Sam has said 'I just knew! Tara has everything I need in a woman,' A source said

'They are in love and it's completely genuine. They didn't argue once in Paradise - it's as if they were destined to be together!' 

'He told other boys they'd better not propose to anyone as he didn't want anything to ruin his and Tara's moment,' 

Sam has also reportedly moved out of his Sydney bachelor pad and into Tara's apartment on the Gold Coast as they gear up to tie the knot.

Bachelor In Paradise tonight at Monday at 7:30pm on Network Ten 

Know a local hero who needs celebrating?

Do you know a local hero in the Newcastle community? Westfield want to give them $10,000 to continue the good work they're doing.

Have a think of someone who promotes social well-being, harmony for local families, youth and inclusion project. Local Mumma and Westfield spokesperson said, "Westfield Local Heroes is about finding and celebrating those important people who go above and beyond to help make their community a better place,”  

Nominations for Westfield Local Heros open on Monday, April 23, and close on Wednesday, May 16.

12 year old boy does the unthinkable

Mum told me off once when my friend Sara was over and I got a little annoyed and went for a walk down the street packing several chocolate biscuits that I thought would last me for a very long time. They didn't have to in fact because Mum came along in her big red Merc about 2 blocks into our journey - spoilsport. This story is UNBELIEVABLE though. 

A 12-year-old stole his mum’s credit card, booked a flight to Bali and spent four days living a life of luxury after getting into a fight with his parents. The boy, who has not been named, booked the cheap flight to Indonesia after the heated argument with his parents. Before booking, he did extensive research on which airline would allow him to travel by himself without a written and signed letter from his parents. He managed to find a ‘cheap deal’ to Indonesia and booked the flight on a school day.

The boy then tricked his Nan into handing over his passport, packed his bag, grabbed his scooter and then headed to the airport by train to go on his solo adventure. At the airport, the boy used the self-service checkout and boarded a connecting flight from Sydney to Perth, and then another to Denpasar. The boy said he was shocked no one at Perth International Airport asked him why he was alone

‘They just asked for my student ID and passport to prove that I’m over 12 and that I’m in secondary school,’  While his parents reported him missing he was ordering room service at the  four-star All Seasons Hotel in Bali. Emma his mum said that she was ‘shocked, disgusted there is no emotion to explain how we felt when we found he had left for overseas.’

"It was great because I wanted to go on an adventure.’ After going on a plane and retrieving him from Bali Emma was quoted as saying he 'just doesn't like the word no'. Goodness me! Can you imagine being that mum? Thank goodness everyone is safe. 

When the bid to have kids ends...

She's known as 'our Kylie' and it was no secret of her desire to have children of her own. With her 50th birthday only weeks away, and her recent breakup, Kylie has admitted that her dream of having children may not become a reality. The age debate is a common and controversial one. So I'm asking our readers for their thoughts on this topic. Were you an 'older' mum, and what constitutes an older mum anyway? 

Who is Manuel Mendez?

When you're 6 years old and the daughter of Beyonce and Jay-Z, you need to look the part. And this is where Manuel Mendez comes in. He is none other than the personal stylist of Blue Ivy. Don't worry, you can follow along Blue's fashion journey on Instagram too, search for the hashtags KidsStyle and KidsFashion. 

Sick Mum staring down the barrel of a day looking after kids

Today I had lost my voice so I couldn't go to my radio job at NEW FM nor could I take my yoga class at The Ohana Room because society doesn't expect you to go to work if you're not well enough. Unfortunately the job of Motherhood never stops, even when you're tired and sick the alarm of the crying baby goes off all hours of the night and demands your attention all day. So I developed a plan, it's not a great one but maybe you could do it sometime? Because I knew there'd be no park or outside fun, I blew up the big double bed mattress of guests put it in the lounge room and witnessed my toddler jumping out all her energy. We got to nap time and she went down. The baby enjoyed rolling around on it too. 

Lock your doors...

Last night a close friend rang in a panic because she heard noises outside her Lambton house. Her partner and oldest child were out at a show and she was home with her little girl. So imagine her shock when she opened the front door to see a man passed out on her verandah. First she rang the police and then she rang her partner, who was still an hour away. We stayed in contact with her while she waited. Her partner beat the police, who evidently never arrived, and he woke up the man who was hostile towards him. So thankfully this story has a happy ending but it really could have ended differently. When alcohol (or I guess drugs too) are involved, things can get unpredictable and when you're a woman on her own with a child in the house, it just makes things even more tense. Newcastle is a relatively safe place to live, but I'd urge everyone to still ensure that your doors are locked. 

Aviccii found dead at 28 years of age

Wow as a Radio Announcer and a Mum this news has really saddened me this morning. Extraordinarily talented  Swedish EDM star Avicii, Tim Bergling has been found dead in Muscat, Oman on Friday. He was 28. Sources went on to say "The family is devastated and we ask everyone to please respect their need for privacy".

His death comes just days after he was nominated for a Billboard Music Award for top dance/electronic album for his EP "Avicii (01)." He was nominated alongside his peers, who have taken EDM mainstream of late ” The Chainsmokers, Calvin Harris and Kygo.

In the past few years he has suffered ill health, including acute pancreatitis in part due to excessive drinking. He also had his gall bladder and appendix removed in 2014. He quit touring but told Rolling Stone that it didn't come soon enough because he was in physical pain he said "I looked at myself like, f***, you should've really stood up for yourself more there. Come on Tim!" going on to say "I needed to figure out my life. The whole thing was about success for the sake of success. I wasn't getting any happiness anymore."

RIP Aviccii and love to his family from NHM x

My tips for travelling in the car with kids

My partner and I are going away for our first little family holiday this weekend as a blended family. So we are packing the car up with bikes and scooters as well as four kids under 6. Thankfully we don't have too far to travel on our maiden voyage but it did get me thinking about tips for travelling in the car with kids. So this is what has helped me in the past. Do you have any tips?

1. Craft bag - colouring books, pencils. The best hack I've seen for a while is using a flat baking tray so they have an instant activity desk. 

2. Always try to set off at sleep time if you can arrange it

3. Take baby wipes - you just never know!

4. Food! ALWAYS have snacks at hand, and bottles of water.

5. Charge up the iPad or tablets and load them up with non. wifi needing games.

Let me know some of your tried and tested tips.... lord knows I need them! 

Prince William loves what?

Friday night was always 'surprise night' in the Sargeant household growing up, this meant take away. WOW as a child I was a little dumpling and couldn't get enough of the good stuff. Some of my faves? A chicken, cheese and bacon burger from Red Rooster, a Big Mac from McDonalds or fried Dim Sims from the local fish and chip shop with a swimming pool of soy source. 

Surely the Royals don't partake in such take away nonsense? Apparently they do. 

Price William has announced at a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM)  where he met Robert Brozin, who co-founded Nandos, that he and his security staff wer "fans" of the chicken restaurant. LOL

Pointing to his police protection officer, Prince William gushed: "This man here is your biggest fan, he's introduced me to Nando's. It's very good. He should buy a stake in Nando's." A friend said he's not surprised at this because Wills and Harry are down to earth and "accessible" to the point where they can enjoy fast food. 

Other Nandos fans include Oprah Winfrey, Ed Sheeran and David Beckham and Drake. 

Has your mum embarrassed you?

Rutherford woman Ashley McTackett made headlines the other day when she appeared on The Voice, and it wasn't for her singing abilities. Unfortunately no chairs turned for Ashley, though we think she was great, but following her performance, her mum screamed from backstage to tell the judges to turn their chairs. I think Ashley handled everything beautifully, I personally would have wanted to crawl into a hole, but even later in all the interviews I have heard, she has laughed it off. Good for her! Her mum is obviously very passionate about the success of her daughter and Ashley appreciates it. So, a quiet word to my own mum... When I eventually make my own appearance on The Voice (this is laughable), please stay quiet or stay home. 

There's a baby on the floor of the US Senate!

There’s a baby on the US Senate floor!  It's 2 week old Maile Pearl Bowlsbey, the daughter of Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and the first real baby to ever set diaper on the floor of the hallowed chamber. Some older male Senators voiced their disapproval Sen. Orrin Hatch saying "But what if there are 10 babies on the floor of the Senate?" Let's not forget Senator you too were a baby once - before you became a grumpy old man. 

This is great to see by the way Lillian my 4 month old is always at my business The Ohana Room and my boss Steve St John is cool with both of my babies gracing the studios of NEW FM and even his office. I had a meeting with him and the head of sales the other day with Lilly rolling around on the floor. I feel super blessed to have bosses like this. Does your boss let you take your baby to work? 

Plastic surgery... the latest campaign attacking women

We've seen quite a trend lately in the amount of people talking about the physical appearance of women on the television, and namely any cosmetic procedures or plastic surgery they may have had. Think Davina and Tracey from MAFS, the latter who sadly was so bullied that she has had a reversal on what she initially had done. Also Keira from Bachelor in Paradise and most recently one of the women on MKR. 

I think the saddest part about this is that obviously when someone chooses to undertake a cosmetic procedure it is because they haven't been happy with their appearance in the first place, so then to have another blow like what many of these women are experiencing, is really quite revolting. 

#choosekind 

Here's a tip for shopping with kids

When you were young you had nightmares of dragons and evil monsters, then you got older had kids and now you have nightmares about the milk running out and having to go shopping with the children. It doesn't matter how many little darlings you have 1? well done :) 2 wow ok now you're felling it :/ or 3 or more? Mummas how on earth do any of you manage 3 you absolutely incredible wonder women... we all DREAD shopping with them right? So many Mummas tell me they shop online but what if something runs out, or what if you're just a generally unorganised mess like me? Here's a mum hack tip for you buy or take out from home a neck cushion and place around the bubba in the trolly while you're out and about, you can even attach toys or keys to the top of this one and use the strap to keep them secure. We'd love to hear about your Mum Hack tip for shopping? Email us hello@nhmnewcastlehuntermummas.com or hit up our Facebook or Insta. One tip at a time is all it will take to drain away some of our Mumma shopping anxiety. 

Oh no I think we're out of milk! 

Love NHM x

How to get a flight upgrade

If you have a flight coming up, make sure you're not wearing jeans or sneakers. This is the advice of flight attendants looking to upgrade passengers. It's a fine line though, you shouldn't be head to toe in Prada but you need to look smart. Funny, this hasn't worked for me in the past... but that could be because I've also been lugging as much carry on as possible, had unruly hair... oh and I guess it could also have been the three kids trailing behind as well. 

$10 to Change a Nappy

A new service has started in the UK, offering to change a nappy for you for around $10. So would you hire someone to do it for you? Personally my toddler who I'm trying to toilet train has rather gross grown up poos but my 4 month old? because its just milk it doesn't bother me. I'm happy to change hers because well it's all rather cute and proper baby poo belonging to my bubba is not a problem. Would you pay for this service?