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I suffer from present pressure. Do you?
There are two types of people in the world: those who have present drawers and those who don’t. I wish I were a present-drawer kind of person. I wish I had a smug stash of thoughtful, useful, delightful gifts simply waiting for the appropriate recipient. But I’m not that person and ain’t it a damn [read more]
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TRAVEL: Beautiful island bungalows below $50 a night
Rebecca Sparrow reluctantly shares a secret – the amazing Sand Sea Resort in Thailand, where bungalows can cost below AUD$50 a night. You know when you discover a place, a getaway, that is so perfect you’re torn between bragging about it to all your friends and… well, telling absolutely no-one so you don’t have to [read more]
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Childhood time machine: what’s your favourite memory?
The time machine can take you anywhere in your childhood. To a taste. A feeling. A moment. A year. A sensation. It won’t take you somewhere nasty. Nowhere you wouldn’t want to return to, just somewhere you’ve been and loved in those innocent days of being a kid. How utterly fascinating it [read more]
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The 5 classic relationship game players. Are you one of them?
Head to any self-help section of your local bookshop and it will (sadly) be clogged with dating advice books. Notable mentions include the relentlessly popular The Rules, and the controversial The Game, which, amongst other things, encourages men to put down women they’re attracted to, to ultimately ruin their confidence and gain the upper hand [read more]
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How clean is too clean?
I witnessed an interesting scene at the supermarket last week. A mother with a toddler in tow cleaned a shopping trolley handle with (what looked like) antibacterial wipes from her handbag before allowing her daughter to sit in the child seat. Was she being a good mother concerned with hygiene or a [read more]
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Myer Spring/Summer catwalk
Sass & Bide opened the Myer Spring/Summer collections last night with a riot of bold colour and ethnic prints. Other designers to show were Arthur Galan, Wayne Cooper, Ellery, TL Wood and Jennifer Hawkins own swimwear brand, Cozi.
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Best and worst of the week
It’s the end of another week and time for our weekly look at our high and low points, known around here as Best and Worst of the week. This post began well over a year ago when Mia decided to try an online version of a tradition that she (and many other families) have around [read more]
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6 Friday news bites + Week in Pics (August 12)
Morning all! It’s the morning news hour and we’re keeping you in touch with everything you need to hear. Rick’s back on deck for the news this morning: 1. As famine worsens, 1 in 10 Somali kids aged under 5 will die by November That’s a frightening statistic as hope fades in the Horn of [read more]
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My mother finally set me free.
My mum was a big lady, in every way. Large of body, mind and presence. I am ashamed to admit it, but when I was in high school, I would dread parent-teacher night because I didn’t want anyone to see how fat she was. Similarly, family trips to the shopping centre [read more]
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The six steps to getting celebrity hair… or not.
Hair crushes. Not a hard concept to understand, they go something like this: 1. See fabulous celebrity hair 2. Take picture to hairdresser 3. See hair on floor of hairdresser 4. Look up and realise your face is not the same as said celebrity 5. Leave hairdresser slightly depressed 6. A few months later find [read more]
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The secret to getting people to do what you want
What if I told you I could bring peace to your household? What if I said there was just one thing you need to do to get your child/teenager/partner / to do what you wanted? I could offer you the sugar-coated version where you would promise goodies like gold stars, financial incentives, [read more]
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Would you go to your high school reunion?
I didn’t really enjoy high school. For a start, there was the uniform: a brown and white check dress, nattily set off by a fawn brown jumper and chocolate brown blazer. If that wasn’t bad enough, in Year 12 we graduated to the “compulsory privilege” of brown casual clothes, though of course no jeans or [read more]
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Part-time chauvinism
Jeremy Irons says, “any woman worth her salt” can handle a pat on the bottom. After decades of political correctness, how much chauvanism will a modern feminist accept? I was brought up in a strong female household where the women had more degrees than the males and we could carve our own roasts. Even my [read more]
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7 Thursday news bites (11 Aug)
Morning all. Come hover around our virtual watercooler and catch up on what you need to know this morning. Today’s news bites are brought to you Nicky. 1. London Riots: David Cameron authorises harsh riot control The UK Prime Minister, David Cameron has authorised police to use plastic bullets, baton rounds and water cannons in [read more]
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Mamamia TV on Sky News.
It’s that time of the week again – Mamamia TV is on Sky News at 9:15pm tonight. Block out your diary or set your Foxtel IQ because this week’s show is set to be a cracker. (If you miss it, it will be repeated on Saturday at 2:15pm). Our guests around the table this week [read more]
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The day I became invisible
I have a morning routine and a big part of that routine is my takeaway coffee. I’ve found that when you work from home, and that work involves sitting in a small room by yourself tapping on the computer doubting every word, a morning routine provides a spot of comfort. A morning routine creates a [read more]
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Would you wear this?
There is something kind of juvenile about wearing a jumpsuit. It’s like you’re sending out a message to the world saying: I’m an adult and I’m not afraid to wearing a onesie in public. Initially intended as a practical utilitarian garment during World War II, it’s surprising jumpsuits have lasted this long, as designers seem [read more]
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5 lessons I learnt from watching daytime TV
We’re having issues in our house at the moment. With TV. And our toddler. It seems Ava has developed a rather strong attachment (some would say obsession) to Play School. And some other kids show involving plasticine penguins who seem to have an alarming number of material possessions. For penguins. But I got to thinking [read more]
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Open post of the week
Welcome to another Open post of the week where I give you some insight into what goes on at MM HQ and shake it all about. And then you talk about whatever you want. Let’s do it. The balloons Dove sent these balloons in and I found them on the roof above Rick’s desk so [read more]
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An open letter to Fred Nile
Dear Fred, Unless you count that time I wrote to Michael J Fox in Grade 2, this is the first time I’ve written a letter to a public figure (Michael never wrote back and I don’t expect that you will, either.) Should I have opened with this letter with “How are you?” I guess if [read more]
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11 Wednesday news bites (10 August)
Good morning, sleepy heads! Ready to get your head around the early news? Today’s 10 newsy morsels are being brought to you by Bec. 1. London in lockdown: Police lose control “This is criminality pure and simple and it has to be confronted and defeated.” – British Prime Minister David Cameron London is a city in [read more]
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Video of the day: Mariachi band serenades a whale
In the mood for something adorable? You’ll love this. Mariachi band ‘Mariachi Connecticut’ went to Mystic Aquarium to perform for a wedding, and ended up serenading a beluga whale – who absolutely loved the music. This is a must-watch:
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Watch Mamamia on Sky News Ep 1 here
Welcome to the second season of Mamamia TV. If you missed it on Sky or don’t have Foxtel, you can watch the first full episode here: And don’t forget to block out your diaries or set your Foxtel IQ for 9:15pm* every Friday on Sky News (repeated on a Saturday at 2:15)
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Mamamia is going to travel. Join us
We are psyched, excited and super delighted to announce a new section on Mamamia. TRAVEL. With us. Come join us but first a word from MM’s Deputy Editor Rebecca Sparrow: A million years ago I was the editor of TRIPS, one of Australia’s most successful travel magazines. Yep. I was a travel writer. Talk about [read more]
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Food. In Motion
Love food? You will love watching this. I did. STA Travel Australia sent friends Rick Mereki, Andrew Lees and Tim White on an amazing journey around the world. They crammed their six-week journey of a lifetime into one epic minute. You can see all their videos on Rick Mereki’s tumblr here
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“My friend has PND and she’s not getting any help”
Post Natal Depression can be devastating. Even more so when it is undiagnosed or not treated. Today’s group therapy comes from Brooke who writes: I met Bella at birthing classes two years ago. She and her partner were distant and non-affectionate and she never smiled. She also never rubbed her tummy with that tender touch [read more]
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44% of people are NOT having sex in the bedroom…..
When my husband does the dishes he wants sex. Have I ever mentioned that before? Well yes, I may have. It was the original title of my book, ‘When My Husband Does The Dishes…’, before it was desexed by my publishers. When I published the book I wondered how that disclosure would be received. Do [read more]
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Vanity sizing. Go figure.
You walk into a store, see an item of clothing you like and decide to try it on. Now unless you are a seasoned shopper or have a good eye for fit, chances are you’ll take various sizes of the same garment into the changing room. Why? Two words: vanity sizing. [read more]
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As London burns, one woman shares her story.
For the first time since I arrived in London five years ago, I feel genuinely on edge. I went for a run this evening after work in Queens Park, north west London and three teenage boys on bikes closed in on me, too close for comfort, then rode off ahead. I bricked it, I won’t [read more]
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8 Tuesday news bites (August 9)
Morning groovers. The news stops for nobody, but find a comfy spot wherever you are and browse this quick recap of the events from yesterday and this morning. It’s knowledge without the effort. So, the news: 1. Federal Labor Minister Penny Wong and her partner are having a baby! It was announced this morning that [read more]