Pizzaland on a "feels like winter" night

Now, let me be clear, I am one who detests winter. (I know that those of you who know me well, know this already). Last Wed (ANZAC day) officially felt like winter – it was rainy, cold, dark, we had the heater on and I had my hoodie and slippers on inside! It makes me feel like I never want to leave the house. Yuck!

Mr. G out of the blue said, “Seeing as though it’s a public holiday, maybe we should all go out for dinner tonight?” My initial thought was “really?..in this cold?” but outwardly I said,”great, what a top idea!” We asked dynamo Nonna to choose the place – a flip between some of our usual favourites, The Great Western, The Sale Yards, the Telegraph Hotel or perhaps Pizzaland? She went with Pizzaland. I had not been there in years. The kids were disturbingly excited (you know, like they never get out) and they set about getting their “restaurant clothes” on!


As soon as we walked in I was happy that we braved the cold. Pizzaland is a REAL pizza place! The smell of garlic whacks you in the face when you walk in. There’s a wood fired oven, big tables for big groups and families, cans of drink on the table, no fancy clothes and there were people waiting for their pizzas to take home as well as a full restaurant. We were there right before 6pm and it wasn’t too busy but by 6.30pm it was nearly full. The menu has a mix of Italian and Turkish food.

We ordered:

• Garlic pizza (for Miss 7 who can’t have dairy)
• American pizza (lots of chilli – yum!)
• Half Napolitana and half marinara (the Napolitana was my favourite – the pizza’s have proper sauce on the base and big juicy olives – I gave Nonna my anchovies)
• Calamari and chips for Miss 7 as well and bowl of chips for Miss 3.8

The food came really quickly and was seriously so delicious. The kids could be as loud as they wanted to be (and they were!) and we were happy that the place could drown out their excited voices! They don’t really possess “inside voices” and once Miss 3.8 got her lemonade in a can with a straw, there was no holding her back.

The menu is huge but my dad used to say that when you eat somewhere you should have their specialty. I have to agree...when in Rome they say!

We will definitely be back (it just may become my winter favourite!)

Pizzaland Bistro
52 MERCER STREET
GEELONG VICTORIA
Ph (03) 52218424 Fax (03) 52218060

A girl and her Poppy

I have to admit that ANZAC day has not traditionally been a big part of my life. Both my parents are Italian and although we have a great respect for the ANZACs we have never been to a dawn service or a parade. My Father in Law, however was in the Navy from 1958 to 1970 and his father was also in the navy. Today for the first time, Miss 7 got to march with her Pop in the ANZAC day parade here in G town. She was so excited and she got to wear her Great Grandfather’s medals. (She told me that she had to wear them on the right hand side because she didn't earn them). She was as proud as punch - what a wonderful opportunity and honour.

Below is a pic of her Great Grandfather's medals. His name was Henry Joseph and he was in the Royal Navy for both the 1st and 2nd world wars. This has really inspired me to start to research our family tree. There is so much that needs to be recorded. On a side note, he apparently helped to build the Great Ocean Road and they worked largely just using picks and shovels! Imagine!

Explanation of medals above

When I was parent helper at school this week the kids were learning about ANZAC day and read a story about a girl and her Pop and why he was sad. I was intrigued to hear how talking about war would be handled with a bunch of 7 year olds. They talked about fighting with other countries and about soldiers being brave and in their works "kind and caring". I just can't believe how much our world has changed in the last couple of generations. My mum, who is only 61, remembers the milk being delivered in a horse and cart! Seriously!

I am grateful that my girls will grow up hearing Poppy's stories. We must write them down.

Lest we Forget.

Pintertest http://www.everythingfab.com/ - edited by picmonkey

All Over the Place Grateful & Hi-5

** Warning - sorry this is a bit on the long side!

I am feeling all over the place grateful today. Grateful for the people who pick you up when yo start to fall, grateful for kids who keep on surprising and amazing you and grateful for really old (not literally) and dear friends who make you feel like your true self.  I am  writing this post at 12.45am Sunday morning by hand in a notebook before I get into bed because I just have to get it out before I go to sleep.

Today Miss 3 and I were heading off to see Hi-5 in Melbourne. We went with my gorgeous, dear friend and her little boy who my Miss 3 says "she's in love with." (oh dear!) My friend organised the tickets months ago and I sort of assumed that we (hubby, 2 kids and I) would all head up the highway together and then Mr G and Miss 7 would drop us off and pick us up afterwards. Then during the week Miss 7 decided she'd like to stay in G Town and have a "daddy and daughter day", just the 2 of them and go swimming. She talked about it all week and has been really drawn to her dad even more than usual. It's really lovely because both of the girls have always been real mummy's girls and often Mr. G is really hard done by I think.

That was all fine until my dear, gorgeous friend sent me a text in the morning saying, " remember the footy's on, so parking will be shit (my word not hers!)". My heart sank a bit. Mr G started going through the directions to Dallas Brooks Hall with me (like he always does - he is my personal GPS) and I started to get cranky and anxious. I have been there so many times before but not from G Town. He said. "you know this, its' easy" and I said "It's not easy for me"...(insert tiff and crankiness). I walked away and had a bit of a mini meltdown out of the blue and then explained that "I know I've been there before but if I take a wrong turn I don't know how to correct  and its making me stressed". I knew he understood me ( I am grateful for this too) and I continued  to get ready in my pathetic mood. I came back to see him explaining to Miss 7 the predicament and hearing this gorgeous girl say that it was fine and that they could go swimming tomorrow. My heart panged with pride at her maturity and then I felt even worse for disrupting her special day...but I did accept the offer. Turns out my friend did the same thing too and her hubby dropped them off aswell. I was so grateful for this because traffic was horrendous and even Mr.G took a wrong turn on the way back (which he was able to rectify!)  I don't want to be someone who "doesn't drive in Melbourne" but I just need to feel confident.

So....after all this we go to the Hi-5 concert and it is amazing! My gorgeous friend starts tearing up (as she does at kiddy concerts) which is hilarious. I think its because she's so happy to see her little boy so happy. We had such a happy time, laughing, singing and dancing. (we knew all the words!) It's probably one of the best kids shows I've seen - they really engaged the kids and parents and were exactly like they are on TV. There were bubbles, beach balls, colourful costumes and screaming kids - what's not to love! When the song  "North,  South, East and West" came on (for those  of you who know Hi-5) I was taken back to the time at our little 2BR unit 7 years ago when I used to put on Hi-5 to entertain my then always screaming baby. (It did help I tell you!)

I have had a very reflective, teary and ultimately grateful day.      

Linking up with Maxabella Loves 52 weeks of Grateful

April Photo a day turbo catch up

I have been loving Fat Mum Slim's Photo a Day challenge but I have been a bit slack over the last week. Soooo, I have a done a quick turbo catch up. (Feel free to follow me as mezziec on Instagram for the proper pics!) Feel free to follow me on facebook too! http://www.facebook.com/backinGtown

Ok so here goes...

4. Someone who makes you happy - Mr G and kids! 

5.Tiny - the kids' Sylvania Families toys

6. Lunch - gorgeous mussels form Queenscliff (click here for fabulous recipe!)

7.Shadow - Mr G's 5 o'clock shadow!

8.Inside your wallet 

9. Younger you - one of my favourite pics of dad and I on the farm in Mirboo North

10. Cold - zooper doopers - I am quite found on putting on facebook what flavour I am eating at any given time (riveting stuff I know!)

11.Where you ate breakfast - at the bench on the go!

12.Stairs - Sylvania families triple decker bunks! 

13.Something you found... I love these pics so I will show these in full - this is the wedding cake topper from my mum and dad's wedding cake - I think 1970 and the cake topper from my brother's christening - about 1976. 

14.How you feel today - relaxed in my PJs - Pic taken by Miss 3

15.Sunset  ( I skipped this one because my pic was boring!)

16. Flower ( ditto above)

17.Something you don't like - getting a bill from  the water company for our new house that is under construction. I said "but we haven't even moved in." They said "yes, but you have had access to water since January - its standard procedure"   grrrrrrrr

18.Hair - my new hair cut even thought it doesn't look like that when I do it!

19. Orange - Dora kitchen!

So there you have it, whether you liked it or not. The challenge is really so much fun and I love that it injects a little bit of creativity into my every day! 

Cheers, Mez  xx  

     

Weekend Getaway

LOVE a hotel!

Last weekend we (Mr G, Miss 7, Miss 3.8 and I) headed up to the big smoke (Melbourne) for a weekend away. It was a last minute decision which found us looking at "Lastminute" for accommodation and we are so glad we did!

We had been invited to celebrate a friend's daughter's 1st birthday on the other side of Melbourne and although we drive there all the time (me for work 3 times a week), its kind of exhausting to do it again on the weekend. So, we booked the Novotel in Glen Waverley (not the usual glamorous inner city...but I read that it is now the demographic centre of Melbourne!)... because it was fairly close to the birthday party and also close to Knox shopping centre where we were heading the next day for the "Phineas and Ferb" show.

We had such a fabulous time. I LOVE hotels and seeing the kids squeal in delight at exploring the room took me back to when I was a kid and we went on our first holiday to Queensland. We stayed at "Palm Rose Lodge" and it seemed soooo glamorous (it wasn't!)

Kids amusing themselves in the hotel room

We went  for a quick wander around the hotel and adjoining Century City Walk which consists of a Village cinema including two Gold Class, Strike Bowling Bar, restaurants and a gaming venue within a ground level mall. Stepping just outside the complex,  we were sorry we had stopped at Subway for lunch because there were so many great noodle bars and dumpling houses all about.

We went to check out the pool (a swim was our plan for the afternoon before the party in the evening) only to be greeted by a sign saying that it was closed. My blood boiled immediately, given that the pool was very high on our list of criteria for choosing this place and we marched to the reception desk, kids whinging at our heels. We were told that someone had "spewed in the pool" and it had to be cleaned. Now you can't really argue with that...who wants to swim in spewy pool but soooo disappointing!

After a quick re-group we decided to go bowling at "Strike" and that was pretty fun. Miss 7 was really into it and Miss 3 lasted 3/4s of the time before whinging for food and drink.

Bowling shoes!

Little bit of help for Little Miss!

Then...after a pit stop back in our room we headed off to the party. It was especially special as this little 1 year gorgeous girl was born really early and her first few months of life were very rough. Her whole family had a wonderful celebration and also raised money for the Life's Little Treasures Foundation. We are so blessed and I can't bang on enough about how we should take every opportunity to celebrate.  Great, great party. (It  was at a play centre which they had booked out for the evening and there were kids everywhere...awesome!)

We had our first Melbourne weekend away last December and have vowed to try and do one at least once a quarter or once a season! Although I am really starting to enjoy living in G Town my heart does still pang a bit for Melbourne and I think this will keep it at bay. On our way home we were driving near to where we used to live in Glen Iris and Mr G asked if I wanted to swing past. I couldn't do it. No point looking back...must look forward.

I look forward to writing about the next getaway and I also think Phineas and Ferb deserve their own post!!

Hair cut!

I had my hair cut yesterday and it has been AGES. I have to say I feel a million bucks since getting some style and shape back onto my head!

Some of you may know I am turning the big 4 0 this year and I very conscious of not becoming a big old frump. This means - no nanna clothes (sorry nannas out there), no daggy trackie pants out in public ( I don't do this anyway by the way!), no slackness with makeup maintenance and skincare and I am going to try to limit the “chuck the hair in a pony tail for school drop off” routine. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a bit of laziness and slackness but not if it generally makes you feel like a big old frump. Recently I went to the Kids Business Bloggers BBQ and was lucky enough to see a couple of styling sessions with Lucy Hendriks. (blog post to come!) It has really made me think about my body shape and what clothes suit me. I know I am no supermodel but it doesn’t hurt to capitalise on what you do have.

Anyhoo, I had my haircut by this gorgeous girl who I discovered at the local supermarket shopping centre when I moved to G Town and she is just an absolute delight. She remembers what I said last time (even though the last hair cut was toooo long ago) and she doesn’t get cross when I colour my own hair at home. Nearing the end of the haircut she quietly whispered to me that she was leaving the salon and gave me her phone number while the boss wasn’t looking. I am so bloody grateful. My kids love her too and I would have been shattered to discover that she had left! I am very loyal to a good hairdresser and my previous two had left to have babies (so rude!)

Do you have a regular hairdresser and do you love or hate the experience?

How do you give back?



Repinned from Good Words by Penny Maggio
(Pinterest)

 At the recent Digital Parents Conference that I attended I was lucky enough to hear Eden Riley speak – she’s a brilliant blogger who has just gotten back from visiting Niger in Africa with World Vision. It was an amazing opportunity and she writes very honestly and at times heartbreakingly and humorously about her time there. It has made me think about whether we do enough to help people in the work who are less fortunate than us. Let’s be honest, we live charmed lives. I know I am very lucky but sometimes I need a kick up the arse to make me appreciate it.

We sponsor 2 children, the first one, a 14 year old girl in Mannya which is in Uganda through the Cotton On Foundation. Both of her parents passed away and she has 3 brothers and 2 sisters. She likes playing netball, singing and dancing and wants to be a teacher. The key areas that this money goes to are: health care, education, infrastructure and sustainability. The Cotton On Foundation does a lot of work to help this community and they even send over 50 of their staff from around the world each year to volunteer.

Eden Riley was partnered with World Vision and they do amazing work helping children and all people similar to our 14 year old sponsor child in Mannya.

We also sponsor a young boy in Australia through the Smith Family and the money donated here goes to education costs like books, uniform etc. He likes to play soccer and wants to be a teacher too! I was originally attracted to this charity as I wanted to give in Australia also and I have been so blessed with the opportunities my parents gave me in regards to education. They wanted the best for me and I always knew I’d go to university because I could. It steered the course of my life for good.

Another great charity that I have learned of since living in Geelong is “Give Where You Live” (formally United way). This charity aims to raise money for the Geelong community which I like. They aim to reduce income, education and health disadvantage in the Geelong region.

So, I certainly do something I regards to helping others but is it really enough? I have a lot left over which was brought home to me again yesterday as I did a  cull of my kids toys. What a luxury to be able to do a toy cull!  How much crap can 2 little girls play with? Food for thought.

I really encourage you to read Eden’s blog – its heart wrenching and inspiring too.

The Lorax



Pics from the official The Lorax website  

Today I am grateful for our first ever outing to the cinema as a family. Me, Mr G, Miss 7 and Miss 3 went off to the Village Cinema "in town". We debated about whether to see The Lorax in 3D, just pondering if  Miss 3 would wear the glasses but Miss 7 really wanted to see the 3D version. The poor kid is always having to compromise for her fiesty little sister, so 3D we went!

It was Miss 3's first ever trip to the cinema and she was so excited all morning. I don't think I've been to a 2.30pm session before but it was very cool being all together. We loaded up on popcorn, lollies and lemonade (which I promptly spilt  in the cinema while trying to organise everyones crap!) and we were pumped. Miss 3 by the way, wore the glasses for the first 15 minutes...I then spent the next half an hour trying to get her to wear them and then gave up. Why would you want to watch a blurry movie? I don't get it!!


How can you not LOVE their hair dos???

Anyhoo... I personally LOVED the movie and I had never seen one in 3D before...how cool is it?!! Gorgeous story, inspired and imagined by Dr Seuss of a little boy called Ted (voice by Zac Efron) who wants to impress this lovely red head, Audrey (voice by Taylor Swift) by trying to find her a "real" Truffula tree. They live in Thneedville where everything is sythetic and man made. Many years ago a young entrepreneur, The Once-ler (voice  by Ed Helms) cut all the trees down trying to create his empire selling "Thneeds." Ted tracks him down to learn about why this happened. It's really a story about protecting our environment which I didn't realise. Danny Devito is the voice of The Lorax who "speaks for the trees" and Rob Riggle (sorry don't know who he is!) is Mr O'Hare, the nasty businessman in the town who is trying to perpetuate the pollution so he can sell fresh air.


Grammy, Audrey and Ted 

Betty White is the voice of Grammy and she is so loveable. The animation and colours are amazing and it was a joy to watch. At the end of the movie Miss 7 said, unprompted... "I think there was a lesson in that mum." I said to her "and what do you think it is?"

Her answer..." to appreciate life"
Couldn't have said it better myself. 

And on a final note (quoted from the movie)

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better,

It's not.

Doctor Seuss.

PS the Official website is really cool, with a few games too
PPS I am linking up with Maxabella Loves,  52 weeks of Grateful this week because I am so bloody (sorry) grateful for such a memorable day...Bubbaloo's first ever movie at the cinema!

Micko's Mussels

Seeing as its Good Friday, I thought I would share my dad's famous mussels recipe. I know Good Friday is meant to be about sacrifice and not eating meat but its become a bit of a seafood celebration hasn't it? Anyway, we don't need much of an excuse to pop down to Queenscliff which is about 30 minutes from our place to buy mussels and prawns. We discovered this place, Q Seafood Provedore when we were holidaying down there at the Big4 Beacon Cove caravan park last November. They are the freshest most delicious mussels I have had in a long time. (they don't even smell like fish!!)

Anyhoo...here is my dad's recipe, cooked lovingly by dynamo Nonna!

We usually buy 2 kilos of mussels which will comfortably feed about 5/6 people (4 if you're Italian) - served with linguine and/or with crusty bread!

Wash the mussels in the sink in cold water and remove the beards by pulling down as shown in the pic above. 

Get ready your chopped onion and garlic, fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, oregano and basil, chopped fresh tomoatoes (we used tinned ones today because we didn't have fresh and fresh chilli or chilli flakes if you like it (we do!)

Saute the onion/garlic first (my mum and dad are the only Italians I have ever met that don't love garlic)  and then add tomatoes, herbs and chilli.

add big splash of white wine and simmer for about 5 mins...

Throw mussels in the pot and put the lid on. Cook for about 10 mins...give the pot a couple of shakes to make sure they all get to move around. Discard any that don't open. Nonna thinks that's rubbish but I wouldn't risk it!

All opened up...yay!!

See all that gorgeous juice at the bottom...you can boil up some pasta...linguine is our favorite and serve with the juice or simply dip with crusty bread!

Nonna dynamo took them out of their shells and back in the juices today before adding the linguine...other times we just have them in a big bowl on the table and share.

Pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy!

Here's to you Micko!   

Mail...April Photo a Day Challenge

I am just loving being part of Fat Mum Slim's Photo a Day challenge. It is getting the creative juices flowing and who would have thought about what trips down memory lane it would enable. This pic is of our old letter box and the new. When dynamo Nonna got her new fence built it meant taking down the old letter box...we just couldn't throw it out and so it’s sitting at the back of the garden. She told me, her and dad bought it at the Lara plant farm (its now  called Roraima Nursery) when they had just moved in the house, circa 1975. It was just plain wood and then dad painted it in later years.

She said once about 20 years ago, some young kids were going around destroying letterboxes and this poor one copped it. The next day a local (who usually delivered the junk mail) bought it back after he found it in pieces a few streets away! My dad of course put it back together (he would have loved that project!) with a new chain and all. I love that letter box!

Colour ...April Photo a Day Challenge

No 2. Colour (I spell it the English way!)

This was taken at the Queenscliff Market...I LOVE Queenscliff...blog post to come!    

April Photo a Day Challenge

I am excited to say that I am going to give Fat Mum Slim's April Photo a day challenge a go!

I have needed something to give my photo taking inspiration a kick and this could well be it!

This is the challenge for April ...

from Fat Mum Slim's website!

This is today's effort...

1. Reflection

If you use instagram I am mezziec...you can follow me there too!

Why not join in? Happy snapping!!

Bloggy Binge

Ok, so I’ve had a very busy couple of bloggy bingeing days.

On Friday I went to my first ever bloggers conference, the Digital Parents Conference 2012. My blogging buddy, Mandy from A little Space Like Home asked me last year if I wanted to come and I said, ”why the hell not!” It’s my year of doing things that are fun. I have to admit I was really nervous and I had no idea what to expect. What a whole new world is all I can say! I had no idea how huge this whole blogging world was and how many “celebrity” blog faces that I would see. We had a full program of events about such things as:

- Blogging for social good
- Blog to book
- Working with brands
- Blog to business
- Blog stories from prominent bloggers

I lapped it all up as it’s still all so new to me. I have so many blogs to look up now and have a new appreciation for twitter…man that’s another world too! Lucky I have Miss Mandy as my coach (Sorry Mandy I didn’t really ask you!) I have never been to a conference where it is acceptable to have your ipad/iPhone/laptop open and be tweeting while you listen. Hilarious!

After a full on day we relaxed for a bit in our hotel room before heading to the dinner and disco! What a laugh. I have to say that I was thrilled to be dancing alongside the great Mrs Woogs from Woogsworld and she was soooo lovely! Who would have thought that a bunch of bloggers would be such extroverts!

The next day, Miss Mandy and I headed to the Bloggers BBQ run by Kidsbusiness and sponsored by Target. When I walked in I was greeted by a lovely woman named Christie who said, "oh yes you're from Back in G Town, the blog about the Geelong area... I do read all the blogs." I was amazed and thrilled. The day was an absolute hoot! I got to spend 4 hours being pampered; getting given heaps of stuff, watching 2 styling workshops and eating yummy food…LOVED IT!!!

I took lots of notes and have lots of new ideas of how to develop my blog but I also had such an amazing time just sending time on me which was probably the biggest blessing of all. What a luxury – it has done me the world of good …you can’t put a price on inspiration!

….and Miss Mandy and I got to have our pic taken with the lovely Livinia Nixon (I was telling her all about my blog…pisser!)