Christmas is fast approaching which means it is time to start thinking about Christmas Gifts.  

Why not do your gift shopping the easy way this year.  

Come along to the Christmas Shopping Spectacular with Connect 2 Mums on facebook. Exclusive offers and giveaways on the night.  

Swish Lily will be participating and there will be special offers and gifts available from us on the night.

Get your Christmas shopping done without leaving home.  No hassles with crowds or car parking.

The Spectacular will be held on Wednesday 16 November from 7.30pm (daylight saving time) at http://www.facebook.com/connect2mums.

See you there.

If you don't receive our email newsletter and would like to take advantage of our free postage offer please subscribe to our e-newsletter and you will be sent the code to use to claim your free postage.

But hurry, offer expires midnight Wednesday 2 November 2011.

The days are getting longer and warmer and very soon a popular weekend activity will be heading off to the beach or pool. 

At Swish Lily we have stocked the shelves with kids swimwear for boys and girls in sizes up to Size 10.

We have also added White Soda Swimwear to our range this year which is a fabulous range of high quality swimwear that is chlorine resistant , UPF 50+ and looks absolutely gorgeous. 

Kids should grow out of their swimwear before it falls apart and you can be certain that this range will last the distance.

Girls swimwear available includes one piece swimsuits, bikini's, tankini's and rash shirts.

Boys swimwear includes board shorts, swim shorts and rash shirts.

And don't forget to grab a bamboo hooded towel jacket.  Perfect to keep the kids warm after their swim and protect them from the elements.  Available in sizes up to Size 10.

The kids will be swish and stylish this summer in swimwear from Swish Lily.

Melissa Groom is the Host and Producer of Toddlers To Teens Parent TV Show.

Prior to starting her own on-line TV Show Melissa had her own business Groom 2 Success, teaching children Etiquette and Manners. Melissa is the mother of 3 children all with special needs. Nicholas 12 has a life long kidney condition and he underwent a successful kidney transplant in September 2010. Grace 11 is Anaplactic and Matthew 9 has Aspergers a form of Autism.

Melissa’s idea for an on-line tv show came out of a need to be at home with her three children. After juggling work outside the home and child care Melissa decided to re-educate herself to learn the necessary skills to produce and host an on-line tv show. Melissa’s passion is the well-being of her children and helping them and herself be the best they can be. So it was only fitting her tv show was in regards to parenting and children which could allow her to have her own children involved. Nicholas is involved and helps shoot many of the interviews. Grace is an avid interviewer/presenter and Matthew just loves the fact mum doesn’t have to leave home to go to work anymore.

Melissa is a member of Girl Guides Australia and is heavily involved with many community events fundraising for various charities such as the Sydney Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and The ChildHood Kidney Support Network. My motto is to treat others the way you like to be treated and to always give a helping hand. Through Toddlers To Teens Parent TV Show Melissa hopes to support parents who do not have support networks due to working full-time, having children with special needs or living in remote areas. Toddlers To Teens can be viewed at your own pace, in your own time.

Toddlers to Teens Parent TV Show was created by Melissa Groom, who also Hosts and Produces the Show. It is made up of short videos, articles and audios for you to watch in your own time and learn at your own pace to parent with more confidence, enjoy being a parent, and have time to have more fun.

Here is a sample of some of the videos now for viewing over at Toddlers to Teens Parent TV Show:

Solving Behaviour Problems by Davina Sharry

How to avoid the Christmas Debt Hangover by Donna Emerson

Organizing for the School Holidays by Claire McFee

How to Improve your Sexual Function by Michelle Wright 

2012 calendar to raise vital funds in support of SIDS and Kids Hunter Region. 

SIDS and Kids Hunter Region are a not-for-profit organisation that provides ongoing bereavement support for those affected by the death of a baby or child during pregnancy, birth, infancy or childhood (for example: miscarriage, stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, accidents, illness, drowning).

The organisation also provides support for parents who have experienced the death of an older dependant child.

All monies raised go directly to SIDS and Kids Hunter Region to enable them to continue their support services to families of the Hunter Region. 

Swish Lily DOES NOT make any profit from the sale of this calender. Kristy Rinkin Photography (www.kristyrankinphotography.com.au) has also very generously donated her services in the creation of this calendar, which has included approximately one hundred hours of photography and editing.  

Your assistance by purchasing this calender will greatly help in allowing SIDS and Kids Hunter Region's vital support services to continue.

Purchase this calender featuring gorgeous photography now. 

For new Mums, settling your new baby can be a challenge at times and more often than not it is in the middle of the night when you don't have access to help.

Here is a list of settling tips that I have used in the past for my babies or tips that have been passed on by friends.

• First of all checking that babies nappy is clean and dry; ensuring they aren't hungry and are the right temperature.
• Slings are fabulous.  You can carry your baby close to you and still have your hands free to get things done.
• Singing softly and gentle rocking in a darkened room.  I also did lunges while singing so I got some exercise in at the same time.  Great for the butt and legs especially as they get bigger.
• A warm bath followed by a gentle massage with some calming Massage Oil.
• Going for a walk in the sunshine with baby snuggled in the pram.
• A drive in the car
• Swaying and cocooned in a hanging baby hammock.
• Baby swaddles help them to feel secure and wrapped up snugly prevents them from waking themselves.
• A moses basket on a rocking stand allows you to rock baby gently when they need settling.  And the Sleepi Spaces range is fabulous as it is the right height for you to gently rock while it is placed beside your bed.
• Lying baby on their tummy accross your knee while sitting and gently patting their back.
• Soft rhythmic background music.
• Sometimes I also found that static noise helped such as the tv or vacuum cleaner.

If you can recognise when baby is getting tired and get them to bed before they become overtired this helps alot.  Signs of tiredness include:

• Jerky movements
• Rubbing eyes
• Pulling ears
• Fussing and wimpering

Most importantly, enjoy every second with your baby.. Because before you know it they won't be babies anymore.

Can you add any more tips to the list?  Please leave a comment below and share.

Swish Lily is excited to be stocking the gorgeous range of pure fresh baby, bath and body products from Heaven Essence.



The Heaven Essence range is nourishing and nurturing and takes care of your little one's delicate skin, gently cleansing, moisturising and protecting using natural plant oils and extracts.  The baby skin care products are made using natural ingredients chosen for their nourishing and healing properties.

The baby skin care range provides gentle care for sensitive, eczema and allergy-prone skin.  All products contain NO parabens, sulphates or petrochemicals, and are free from synthetic fragrances and colours.

The product range includes:

♥    Baby Balm - Rich soothing balm that calm's and moisturises baby's skin while providing a natural barrier.  Perfect for nappy rash and cradle cap.

♥    Baby Bath Milk - Created for newborns, this bath milk moisturises and calms while gently cleansing babies skin.  Ideal for sensitive, irritated skin at any age.

♥    Baby Bubbles - A gently, non-irritating gel to cleanse baby from top to toe.  Will calm and soothe baby before bed time.

♥    Baby Massage Oil - Nurture and calm baby with a gentle massage. Also great to soften cradle cap.

♥    Baby Powder - Keep baby fresh and dry with this talc-free powder.  It will absorb excess moisture and prevent chafing.

♥    Baby Nursery Spray - An anti-bacterial spray to minimise odours in the air, and to freshen bedding, blankets, car seats and toys.

♥    Bug Repellent - Keep bugs away safely and naturally.  Use it on the whole family for a great smelling alternative to chemical sprays.  Also helps soothe existing bites.

Click here for more details on the Heaven Essence baby skin care range.

Cauliflower and Bacon Soup

½ large cauliflower

3 bacon rashers, chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 litre (4 cups) water

2 small chicken stock cubes, crumbled

¼ cup cream

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Cut cauliflower into flowerets.  Combine bacon and onion in large pan, cook, stirring until onion is soft.  Add cauliflower, water and stock cubes, simmer, covered, about 20 minutes or until cauliflower is soft.  Blend or process the mixture in batches until smooth.  Return the soup to pan, bring to boil, add cream and parsley, reheat soup, stirring, without boiling.

Serves 4.

Serve with crusty bread.