Life

by Rebecca Lee [space_20] Call me Marjorie Dawes, but I just freaking love cake. Chocolate, carrot, vanilla, fruit. Cake.. Cake.. I LOOOOOOVE DE CAKE!   So here we go- Ryde's Top Eats does Chocolate Cake. 1. Abe and Gizelle- 14 Blenheim Rd, North Ryde - WINNER! This magnificent creation is sure to impress. Somewhere between a…

This playground is a little beauty! located just down the road from hunters Hill Primary School, Harry Shelley Memorial Park is a great little playground that preschoolers will just love. Adults will love it too because it ticks many of the must-have boxes.     Firstly, the playground is completely covered by a shade sail which isn't…

By Juliet Rogers   [space_20]You got up at 5am to put the bird in the oven, peel the veg and decorate the table. You're knackered having only gotten to bed at 1am after wrapping the trillion presents for the kid's stockings (which in itself was stressful as you had to hunt for different paper from…

You've voted and here's what you had to say! Your top 10 breakfast venues in the local area:   10. Hattrick, Macquarie Centre Fancy beverages, healthy menu options and a light-filled interior. Check out our in-depth review here. Open from 7:30am every day Access via Waterloo Road or the carpark near Big W [hr] 9. Rustic Cafe, Top…

by Kate Sawtschuk [space_20] I have always loved children’s books, even well beyond my childhood and prior to having kids. They transport me to a place of comfort and endless possibility. Now, there’s not much I enjoy more than reading with my kids. During my university years, I worked in several specialist children’s booksellers. One of…

by Rebecca Lee [space_20] Close your eyes, steady your mind and imagine you are luxuriating poolside, the warm sun basking on your freshly pedicured toes, cold cocktail in hand. The turquoise lagoon pool stretches out in front of you. You're conscious that your children are close by, being looked after by professionals so that you…

by Lonni Aylett [space_20] Isn’t Christmas a tough time for encouraging gratitude in our children? We want our kids to be grateful for their blessings, but when the candy canes are flowing at school, ads are peddling gimmicky toys, and relatives are showering them with far too many gifts, it can feel like you’re fighting…

by Kate Sawtschuk   We have a treasure in Ryde undiscovered by many local families. No, it’s not a cool kid-friendly café or a new state of the art park (although I definitely want to know about those!). It is just a lovely little place where women can go to have their babies! Six years ago,…

by Ali Wright [space_20] Hi there! We are from the team at Carlile Swimming Cross Street, Ryde! You may be familiar with our swim school but we thought we could introduce ourselves and chat about the benefits of learning to swim. Carlile Swimming provides swimming programs for all ages, from babies to Olympians. We have…

Located 10 minutes from Gladesville, Lane Cove West might be a bit further afield for some of us but this awesome find is definitely worth a visit. Hughes Park has so much to offer and caters to both young kids and older kids with various sections that will be sure to keep everyone happy. The…

By Juliet Rogers and Meredith Gordon [space_20] Another instalment from our crafty RDM team! Mess Free Painting by Meredith Gordon Materials Paint Paper (or thin card) Large A4 sized zip bags Messy mat (optional) [space_20] Instructions Place the paper or card inside the zip bag and squirt small blobs of paint onto paper. Try to…

by Tricia-Lyn Morrison [space_20] Do the words “Blighted Ovum” (BO) mean nothing to you? That was me, ten days ago – eight weeks pregnant and nervously waiting to see my new baby’s heartbeat on the ultrasound. But it wasn’t there. And I’m no radiographer, but even I could see that the gestational sack which should’ve…