Halloween!

There are so many things to be excited about for Halloween this year. For the first time we decorated our house and Amelie was delighted informing our neighbour not to be scared and the giant spider on our door was 'only p'tend.'

She will have a fancy dress party in creche and we will also go trick or treating for the first time. In Australia Halloween is not a big holiday so this year I am looking forward to getting involved in the Irish hype of it all... Amelie has a big box of fancy dress clothes so it will be interesting to see what she actually dresses up as, so far she is insisting on being a bumble bee... cute!

On the 28th we will head out to Kilruddery House in Wicklow for a great day of pumpkin carving, scarecrow making and Halloween fun. Pop over to their web-site if you are interested.

On the 26th I will go with the girls from college to see 'Jason and the Argonauts' in the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire and again we will dress in fancy dress and really enjoy the Halloween spirit.

On the 31st pop on over to the Promenade Cafe between 6pm and 8pm for FREE Halloween Portrait Shoot & FREE High Resolution Image from BosPhotography.


Hoping this post give you some ideas of fun events to get along to this Halloween.

More posts to come soon.

Love the Yummy Mummies and the Jetsetting Babies

xxx

Welcome back Oliveto

Have you poked your head in the doors of The Kingston Hotel lately? What a surprise. Oliveto is back, they have been serving up exquisite authentic Italian cuisine since before Christmas. We can finally get the famous wood over pizzas again too. The Tagliarie Board is great for sharing and a good opportunity for the kids to try some different foods. I love the new Frito Misto and my personal favourites are the Risi e Bisi or the Ossobuco for mains. There are children's options on the menu too if they are not that adventurous. The most difficult thing is to decide what to have for dessert they are all stunning.



Oliveto is filled with families over the weekend days, they just can’t keep them out it is spacious and welcoming. Oliveto is not only 'family friendly' but it is 'parent friendly' too. If you fancy a little quiet time on the rare occasions you can leave your little ones, pop over to their Library Bar. This ‘adult space’ provides a quiet, fresh space with an open fire and again that breath taking view. The staff serve up lovely coffee or you could try one of the cocktails from their newly launched Martini’s list. Whatever you order it is the place to go in Dun Laoghaire to have a chat with the girls or read a book without being interrupted by your own (or anyone else’s screaming children) it really is pure genius.

What a location. It is the only place in Dun Laoghaire that you can sit, eat, drink and take in the breath-taking views that are Dublin Bay. The renovations continue however the restaurant is looking amazing and the food and ambiance will keep you coming back time and time again.

Hope to see you there,

Love the Yummy Mummies and the Jetsetting Babies

Childrens Menu - Y
Baby Changing - Y
High Chairs - Y
Childrens Activities - Y (Colouring)

Baby and Toddler Groups

As a stay at home mother I am so lucky to have so much time to spend with my baby girl. I love to read to her, play games that help her learn, sing nursery rhymes and explore new places with her. I enjoy every second but it often occurs to me that she needs time to be social with other children around her age. Obviously she has her best pal Dylan to play with often but it is great for her to interact with other children too.

Most weeks we toddle off to two different baby and toddler mornings and tomorrow we are going to try a new one. I am looking forward to meeting up with a few mothers that I already know, meeting some new people and most of all giving Amelie a new experience with some babies her age.

I would love to hear from mothers what they are looking for in a baby and toddler groups as I have heard many different things chatting with Mums over coffee or the swings and have read so many blogs all saying they like different things each group has to offer. Comments I've heard., "too many nannies and not enough mothers", "some have too many older children that bowl the little ones over," "too many toy" or "not enough toys" and "some are over crowded"... what makes your baby and toddler group great?



When I was checking out google for the address of the group I am going to tomorrow I realised just how many different baby and toddler groups there are around the place, and of course I wanted to share these with you. Hope to see you around the place,

NAME	ADDRESS	PHONE	MEETING TIMES
Marley Toddler Group	Dublin 16	01 4945008	Thursdays 10.45am - 12pm
The Annunciation Parish Centre Parent and Toddler Group	Dublin 14	086 6050223	Monday's 10.30am - 12.30pm
Rhyme Time	Stepaside	086 3324091	Monday's 10am- 11.30am St. Thomas Mount Merrion
St Laurence's Adult & Toddler Group, Parish Centre, Stillorgan.	Dublin 14	01 2962675	Friday's at 10.30am
Parent and Toddler Group, Dundrum Library	Dundrum	01 2985000	Fridays 10.30-12.00
Parent and Toddler Group, Glencullen Library	Dublin 18	01 295 5572	Wednesdays 10.30-12.00
Parent and Toddler Group, Methodist Church, Wesley	Ballinteer	01 2956490	Tuesday 10am- 12pm
Parent and Toddler Group, Mount Merrion Community Centre	Mount Merrion	01 2836403	Tuesdays 10.30-12.00 and Wednesdays 10.30 -12pm
Parent and Toddler Group, Taney Parish Centre	Dundrum	01 298 5491	Monday and Thursday from 10am -12pm
Cuidiú ICT - Dublin South West Parent and Toddler Group, Dundrum, Methodist Church	Dublin 14	085 2773191	10am-12pm Thursday Morning
Parent and Toddler Group, Barnardos, Tivoli Tce	Dun Laoghaire	01 2842323	Fridays 10.00-12.00. Toy Library
Parent and Toddler Group, Barnardos, Loughlinstown Drive	Ballybrack	01 2820328	Thursdays 10.00-12.00
Our Lady of Good Counsel Parent and Toddler Group, Johnstown Pastoral Ctr	Killiney	01 2849455	Tuesdays 10.30-12.00
Parent and Toddler Group-Family Life Centre, St. Brighids Parish Ctr, Cabinteely	Dublin 18	01 2858835	Tuesdays 10.30-12.30
Parent and Toddler Group, St. Paul's Church Hall	Glenageary	01 2024715	Wednesdays 10.00-12.00
Dalkey Library Parent and Toddler Group	Dalkey	01 2855277	Friday's at 10.30am - 12.00pm
Squeals on Wheels Parent & Toddler Group, Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church	Dun Laoghaire	01 284 1016	Tuesday's 10.30am
Fun Fitness Parent & Toddler Group, Total Fitness Complex	Sandyford	01 2998080	Mondays and Thursdays 10.30am - 12pm
St. Patrick's Parent and Toddler Group, Church of Ireland Hall	Dalkey	01 2300844	Tuesday's 10.30am - 12pm
Rathmicheal Parish Mother and Toddler Group, Erck Hall	Rathmichael	01 2824202	Wednesdays 10.30am -12pm
Holy Trinity Parent and Toddler Group, Holy Trinty National School	Sandyford		Wednesdays 10am - 12pm
Booterstown Parish Centre Parent and Toddler Group	Bootersown Avenue, Blackrock	01 2831593	Tuesdays
Shankill Parent and Toddler Group, St.Anne's Parish Ctr	Shankill	0872856944	Wednesdays 10.15am -11.45am
Young Mums Group	C/o Nutgrove Youth Centre, Meadow ParkAvenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16	2963810 or 0851196164	Thursdays 5pm - 7pm

New Look Reviews - The Sunshine Cafe

Hi, here is a review for the Sunshine Cafe, Dun Laoghiare. As we have now opened the review section of our blog up to contributers I filled out a contibuters form so you could see an example of the New Look Reviews. If you would like to contribute, copy the form from our blog or email us at jetsettingbabies.blogspot.com (That is why this review is written in the third person.)



The Sunshine Cafe


A: 107, Lower Georges Street, Dun Laoghaire,
P: 01 230 1828

Thankyou to our Yummy Mummy Angi and her Jetsetting Baby Amelie(13months). They contributed the information for this weeks review. Angi has a blog check it out: http://jetsettingbabies.blogspot.com/

(This photo could be of you and your little ones!)




The Sunshine Cafe is a genuinely good cafe on the main street of Dun Laoghaire with a nice vibe . Angi rates the service a 9 out of 10 and says "The staff always hold the awkward double doors so I can get the buggy in, I have even seen them stop in the middle of taking an order to help me."

The food gets a 8 out of 10 and Angi says "it is wholesome and flavourful, there is always a lot of desserts to chose from I really enjoy their soups." The Sunshine Cafe serves breakfast daily as well as a really good lunch menu. The freshest ingredients are used in their food with their open sandwich's seeming very popular.

Unfortunately much of their seating us upstairs and while the tables downstairs are nicely spaced the room could not accommodate more than a few at a time. There are also no changing facilities at all again this can pose a problem for families. On the up side there is a cute sandwich and juice deal for children and there are two highchairs available for use.

Angi mentioned that there was always some gret music playing, "I love the French Jazz that was on last time I was there" she commented. Thanks again Angi for sharing your expereinces.

 

Baby Changing - N

Highchairs - Y

Kids Menu - Y

Children's Activities - N

Review # 7 The Promenade Cafe, Dun Laoghaire

The Promenade Cafe

A: 1-2 Windsor Terrace,
Dun Laoghaire,
Dublin

T: (01)2148710

The Promenade Café is located just down from Teddy’s Ice Cream in Dun Laoghaire. Peoples Park is around the corner and there is a lovely walk along the coast to Sandyford so you can work off the calories from lunch. I noticed the Promenade Café soon after it appeared but it took me a little while to get down there. After a busy morning with Amelie at the Cuidui play group in in Glenageary I decided to stop for lunch before heading home.

The steps are quite tricky to negotiate with a buggy alone.  I must admit after the stairs I was worried that this place would not be baby friendly at all. I was wrong. I was greeted by a lovely woman who directed me where I could park my buggy and showed me to a table. The only high chair was already in use, luckily I had brought the sackn’ seat so Amelie was fine to sit at the table with me.  Some age appropriate toys and books were delivered to my table to amuse Amelie while I had a peak at the delicious looking food on offer.

The decor is designed to make you think you are in a little French Café, there are all sorts of treats like boiled lollies and homemade relishes to buy that are on display on the walls in between the classic art nouveau posters nicely famed and dotted around the place. I had cottage pie which was very hearty and really hit the spot. For dessert I had a mouth watering slice of cheese cake that was all together far too large I am actually ashamed to say I finished every last mouthful.

Great Café experience, baby friendly yes but baby practical not so much. Stairs, table layout and overall size of the venue poses problems for Mums with more than one child.

We attempted to return the next week, four Mums and four babies… not a chance. We all managed the stairs only to realise there were no tables big enough for us all to sit at (most tables are for two) and no way could we park all the buggies without completely blocking the door. We resigned to try again another day and tottled down to Poppies where there is always room for us and the babies.

Enjoy x

It was a beautiful day and this is a photo taken just by the car park, I love rainbows!

Travel Tip # 2

Yesterday we posted a blog and talked about the hug-a-bub. I found it to be very useful when travelling to Australia with Amelie. A good baby sling or carrier is essential when travelling solo with a small baby, especially over long distances. There are a few other things that I feel really helped me on my travels. I discovered a great fabric, portable high chair in the Coco Markets in Dun Laoghaire and took it to Australia with me. I do not know what I would have done without it.

Sack’n seat

What is it:

The sack’n seat is a great invention, a fabric take-anywhere highchair. It secures your baby to any chair so you can feed them anywhere anytime, even in those less than baby friendly restaurants and café’s that don’t have highchairs. By slipping the fabric over the back of a chair and using the two clips to secure it to the chair and around your baby. When the sack’n seat gets dirty, as it most definitely will just throw it in the machine with the rest of your laundry.

Why you need it:

It is absolutely essential when you are travelling, be it a day trip to the Zoo or half way across the world.  When in Australia I spent a lot of time staying with different family members and if they did not have a high chair I could just use the sack’n seat. Waiting in departure lounges in the airport, the sack’n seat was a god sent, all you have to do is slip it over a chair and away you go… feeding time on the go made easy.

Where can you get it:

I purchased Amelie’s sack’n seat from the Coco Markets in Dun Laoghaire. The wonderful ladies from the Mayfly store have a stall there; I assume you can find them in their store also at the address below:

64 Pleasants Place
Camden street
Dublin , 8
+35386 3764189 info@mayfly.ie

www.mayfly.ie

Or find it online at one of my favourite sites

www.ethicalbabe.com

Jetsetting Babies Guide to Dublin South - Review # 6 - Poppies - Dun Laoghaire

A: 7 Upper Georges Street, Dun Laoghaire

P: (01) 6336871

W: www.poppies.ie

Poppies is a great little café, restaurant located at the top end of Georges Street quiet close to The People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire. It is just opposite a great babies store called Tiggle (a relatively new addition to stores in Dun Laoghaire).  I frequent Poppies often either with friends who have children or alone with Amelie.

The well-spaced tables allow plenty of room for buggies and high chairs, I have met three other Mums and their children at Poppies on several occasions and found it to be quite comfortable. Like many other places they only have two high chairs so you may have to hold your baby on your lap or leave them in the buggies if you are in a large group. I have also seen a huge number of mothers here with their toddlers and small children it seems to cater for families well.

The food in Poppies is fantastic and uses locally sourced ingredients. I have often called in purely for a nice fair trade coffee and their amazing homemade carrot and walnut cake. Having tasted a good number of things from the menu, I can say I am not so in to the ‘Poppies Chicken’ it looks interesting and impressive with a cornflake and almond topping but as a signature dish I was not blown away, it is a little dry and plain. On the other hand I highly recommend the saucy and flavorsome Shepherd’s Pie served with Avoca style salads or a baked potato. No clear children’s menu but they have a lot of things you would happily feed your kids, what’s more is they have a god selection of fruit available for a healthy snack.

A fun marketing idea and eco-friendly initiative has been adopted by Poppies, they sell their own travel mugs and stainless steel water bottles which they currently have on promotion at 50% off, and I was lucky enough to get the travel mug filled with a hot, creamy take away latte when I last purchased one.

If you didn’t have to place your order and pay your bill at the counter this place would be a little closer to perfect for mothers and babies. They staff are lovely and deliver great service each visit. The next time you need to warm up a little after a trip to the playground in People’s Park poke your head into Poppies and you will leave full, cozy and satisfied.

High Chairs: Y x 2

Childrens Menu: N

Changing Tables: Y

Kids Activities: N

Amelie's 1st Birthday Invitations - Getting crafty with Art and Hobby!

Hello all the Mummies out there, I hope you enjoyed our last review on Tonic in Blackrock. We will keep posting weekly reviews to help you discover all the baby and family friendly cafes and restaurants in Dublin South. If you have missed our reviews go back and read them so far we have posted reviews on:

- Giddy Goose Cafe, Dun Laoghaire

- Sea Green Tea Rooms and Emporium, Monkstown

- Muggs Cafe, Dalkey

- Tonic Restaurant, Blackrock

This a quick blog that might inspire you to do a little arts and craft. If your children are older why not get them involved too. I have fallen in love with the Art & Hobby stores that are in Dun Laoghaire and Blackrock. There is something special about hand made gifts, invitations and cards plus I love to get creative.

Arts & Hobby stores have:
- Excellent children's toys (brightly coloured wooden puzzles and fabric hand puppets are some of my favourite) 
- Endless art supplies for all my creative ideas (some of which I really should complete!)
- Exceptionally friendly staff who always give great advice and excellent service.

Art and Hobby - Blackrock

My latest little project was to make invitations for Amelie's first birthday. I really wanted to do something special for her birthday because she is so special herself.

Here are some photo's of what I did.

 Rubber stamps, blank cards & envelopes, an ink pad and some markers are all you need!

I stamp the cards lightly then go over the outline in a black marker for a better finish

I did the lettering myself but you could print it or stencil it

I put a photo of Amelie in every card and the details of the party.

One more stamp on the envelope and it's all done!

Check out the Art and Hobby stores in your area for some great ideas on how to get crafty. It is fun to have something to work on other than the house work and gets you away from the tv and computer for a few hours in the evening and gets the creative juices flowing. I forgot how much I loved creating things with my hands and I can't wait to get crafty with Amelie as she grows up.

To locate your nearest store why not log on to their website http://www.artnhobby.ie/